The Wisconsin Supreme Court has reached a decision on the 1849 abortion ban, and both sides of the political aisle are speaking out.
The court decided in a 4-3 vote on Wednesday that the 176-year-old law does not ban abortion.
The law was long forgotten by many, but came back into the spotlight after the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade in the U.S. Supreme Court.
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu issued a statement, calling it a “sad day for the state of Wisconsin.”
He also called out the court for “ignoring” its role to “analyze the law free from political influence,” claiming they “instead took this opportunity to deliver on their political campaign promises.”
He closed by saying, “The sanctity of life was trampled on today by the liberal majority of the Supreme Court.”
26th Assembly District Representative Joe Sheehan, on the other hand, was happy with the decision, calling it a “major victory.”
However, he also noted, “the work is not done until we cement reproductive freedom in our Constitution and state law. I will continue to voice my opinion to help advance reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy so rights for the citizens of Wisconsin remain protected. I know the fight isn’t over, but today was a step in the right direction.”
Attorney General Josh Kaul also praised the decision in a statement on WisPolitics.com, calling it a “major victory for reproductive freedom.”
He also said, “At a time when rights are endangered, this ruling is a powerful reminder of the importance of advocating for our freedoms.”
