Ruling, which may be reviewed by appellate court, could strike reproductive rights measure off November ballot
A Missouri judge has ruled that a ballot measure asking voters whether abortion rights should be enshrined in the state constitution is invalid, potentially jeopardizing an election scheduled for November.
In a ruling issued on Friday, Cole county circuit judge Christopher Limbaugh said that the reproductive rights petition – also known as Amendment 3 – led by Missourians for Constitutional Freedom did not comply with state law.
Abortion rights activists are hopeful an appellate court could reverse Limbaugh’s decision, but for now it remains unclear whether voters will be able to decide the issue as scheduled on 5 November, the same day as the presidential election.
For a narrow definition of law that may be the case.
But it could also be thought of as a set of laws, which specifically govern law-makers.
In this case it’s making certain pre-existing statutes illegal, effectively nullifying them.
Why this judge thinks those statues need to be specifically mentioned, I don’t understand. As a judge you’d think that would be their job.