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Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin to resume abortions at Sheboygan clinic within days

A circuit court ruling in a lawsuit challenging an 1849 state law boosted confidence among Planned Parenthood leaders that they could restart abortion services at the group's Sheboygan clinic.

Associated Press

December 18, 2023

Multiple rows of chairs sit empty in a room with glass-paneled walls glaring in sunlight, with parked cars and trees visible outside.

The lobby at the Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin clinic in Madison sits empty on June 23, 2022, after the group halted abortion services in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in "Dobbs v. Jackson." After a Dane County Circuit Court judge issued an initial ruling in July 2023 that an 1849 state law does not apply to medical abortions, Planned Parenthood resumed services at its Madison and Milwaukee clinics in September, and after a final ruling, made plans to do the same at its Sheboygan clinic by the end of December. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin announced that it will resume offering abortions at its Sheboygan location on Dec. 28.

The group promised earlier in December to restart abortion services at the clinic “as soon as possible” after a judge on Dec. 5 reaffirmed her ruling that state law permits abortions.

Planned Parenthood providers stopped offering abortions in the state in June 2022 immediately after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned its decision in Roe v. Wade. Clinics in Milwaukee and Madison resumed offering abortions in September, leaning on an initial ruling from Dane County Circuit Judge Diane Schlipper that said Wisconsin’s 173-year-old abortion ban outlaws killing fetuses but does not ban consensual medical abortions.

Schlipper’s final ruling in December boosted Planned Parenthood leaders’ confidence that they could restart abortion services at the Sheboygan clinic, too.

Sheboygan County District Attorney Joel Urmanski, a Republican, acknowledged that he is obligated to comply with the ruling but promised to appeal it. The case is likely to end up before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which has flipped to liberal control. Urmanski’s attorney did not immediately respond to an email sent Dec. 18 seeking comment.

“While we are grateful to be resuming medication abortion care at the Sheboygan Health Center, there is more to be done,” Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin President Tanya Atkinson said. “We will continue essential work to help protect and expand reproductive freedom in Wisconsin so that everyone who needs comprehensive reproductive health care in our state can get the nonjudgmental and compassionate care they deserve.”