Doe v. Minnesota (Minnesota)

Minnesota’s laws concerning abortion and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have become outdated. Enacted decades ago, many of these laws are out of step with contemporary medical practice and reflect antiquated views about gender and sexuality. In addition, they fail to honor the diverse religious traditions of Minnesota residents.

On July 11, 2022, the District Court permanently blocked many of these laws, including:

• a ban on qualified advance-practice clinicians providing abortion care;
• a requirement forcing patients to delay their abortion care by at least 24 hours after consulting with a healthcare provider;
• a requirement that young people notify both parents before they can receive abortion care;
• a requirement forcing abortion providers to give irrelevant and misleading information to their patients;
• a ban on the provision of second-trimester abortion care outside of hospitals; and
• regulations that subject abortion providers to felony criminal penalties for minor regulatory infractions.

The court held that the Minnesota Constitution protects not just a fundamental right to choose abortion, but also a fundamental right to access abortion care.  The Honorable Thomas A Gilligan said:  “The right to choose to have an abortion . . . would be meaningless without the right to access abortion care.”

On May 30, 2024, the Minnesota Supreme Court affirmed lower court rulings denying an anti-abortion activist group’s request to intervene in the lawsuit, concluding the legal challenge and ensuring the restrictions struck down in July 2022 will remain permanently blocked. 

Dr. Jane Doe; Mary Moe; Our Justice

State of Minnesota; Governor of Minnesota; Attorney General of Minnesota; Minnesota Commissioner of Health; Minnesota Board of Medical Practice; Minnesota Board of Nursing

Gender Justice

Minnesota Supreme Court Affirms Lower Court Rulings Denying Mothers Offering Maternal Support’s Motion to Intervene

Court of Appeals Affirms District Court’s Denial of Mothers Offering Maternal Support’s Motion to Intervene

Court of Appeals Affirms District Court’s Denial of Traverse County Attorney’s Motion to Intervene

District Court Denies Mothers Offering Maternal Support’s Motion to Intervene

Anti-abortion Group Mothers Offering Maternal Support Files Motion to Intervene

Traverse County Attorney Files Notice of Appeal

District Court Denies Traverse County Attorney’s Motion to Intervene

Traverse County Attorney Files Motion to Intervene

District Court Grants in Part and Denies in Part Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment II & III

District Court Orders the Voluntary Dismissal of Plaintiff First Unitarian Society pursuant to the Parties’ Stipulation

District Court Denies in Part and Grants in Part Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment I

Supreme Court Denies Anti-Abortion Groups’ Petition for Review

Court Denies Motion to Intervene

Court of Appeals Affirms District Court’s Denial of Anti-Abortion Groups’ Motion to Intervene

Minnesota Senate Files Motion to Intervene

Court Denies Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss

Putative Intervenors File an Appeal

Court Denies Motion to Intervene

Anti-Abortion Groups File Motion to Intervene

State Files Motion to Dismiss

Plaintiffs File First Amended Complaint

Plaintiffs File Complaint

Press Release: Minnesota Abortion Restrictions Permanently Blocked, Concluding Historic Legal Challenge

Press Release: In Victory for Abortion Rights, Minnesota Appeals Court Denies Anti-Abortion Group’s Request to Relitigate Historic Decision Ending Restrictions on Abortion Care

Press Release: In a Huge Victory for Abortion Rights in Minnesota, District Court Reaffirms State Constitutional Protections for Abortion and Permanently Blocks Numerous Restrictions

Press Release: Religious Congregation Decides to Leave Abortion Rights Lawsuit After Appellate Court Delays Case

Press Release: Positive Step in Abortion Rights Litigation:  Judge Allows Case Challenging Minnesota Abortion Restrictions to Proceed

Press Release: Victory: Court Denies Senate’s Politically Motivated  Request to Join Legal Challenge to Minnesota Abortion Restrictions