In a Move Unrelated to the Merits of the Case, Missouri Court Dismisses Challenge to State Abortion Restrictions Targeting Young People and Their Helpers

Right By You and Lawyering Project pledge to pursue all avenues to protect abortion access for vulnerable population

10.07.25—Today, a Missouri state court dismissed without prejudice Right By You’s lawsuit challenging forced parental involvement requirements and the ban on supporting young people seeking an abortion under Amendment 3, meaning Right By You may re-file the case.  While the dismissal is unrelated to the merits of the case and concerns a corporate registration requirement, this means young Missourians will for the time being continue facing insurmountable hurdles when they need an abortion, despite new constitutional protections for reproductive freedom.

Right By You and the Lawyering Project remain committed to exploring every avenue to ensure young people can access abortion care safely, with support, and in line with the reproductive freedoms Missouri voters enshrined into law.

Statement from Stephanie Kraft Sheley, Founder and Director, Right By You:

 “Young Missourians will continue to be coerced, isolated, and stigmatized for simply choosing to end a pregnancy until the abortion restrictions targeting them are lifted. Missouri’s youth deserve better than being left on their own just to access basic health care.

“Right By You is not backing down. We will continue sharing abortion and contraception information and helping each young person who reaches out to our text line. ”

Statement from Rupali Sharma, co-director of litigation at the Lawyering Project:

“Today’s decision is a disappointing setback, yet changes nothing about the overwhelming strength of our case or the fact that it is far from the end of this fight.  Missouri’s constitution protects the right to reproductive freedom, and we will continue working alongside young people to challenge these punitive and unnecessary abortion restrictions.”

###