Doe v. Minnesota (Minnesota)

(Minn. 2d Jud. Dist. No. 62-cv-19-3868)

Minnesota’s laws concerning abortion and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have become outdated.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.”

Plaintiffs:

Dr. Jane Doe; Mary Moe; Our Justice

Defendants:

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

Co-counsel:

Gender Justice

Timeline and Key Documents:

February 12, 2024

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

April 3, 2023

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

March 14, 2023

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

September 12, 2022

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

September 9, 2022