Federal Court Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Michigan Abortion Rights Amendment

A federal court in Michigan has dismissed a lawsuit filed by anti-abortion groups, including Right to Life of Michigan and several Republican lawmakers, which sought to invalidate Michigan's constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights. The amendment, known as Proposal 3, was approved by nearly 57% of voters in 2022 and enshrines the right to abortion as well as other reproductive health care rights in the state constitution. The court ruled that the plaintiffs lacked legal standing because they failed to demonstrate any direct or imminent injury resulting from the amendment. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel emphasized that medical decisions belong to individuals and their doctors, and her office will continue to defend these rights. This dismissal upholds the constitutional protection of reproductive freedom in Michigan, effectively superseding a decades-old law that criminalized most abortions. Plaintiffs may appeal the decision, but for now, the amendment remains in effect, protecting bodily autonomy in the state.