Oklahoma Supreme Court Ruling Allows Mothers An Abortion To Save Their Life

The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled 6-4 Tuesday that there is limited right to abortion in the state.

The court held that abortion must be allowed in order to preserve the life of the mother after a challenge brought to state law by abortion rights supporters.

The court did allow a state ban on elective abortions to remain in place.

The majority opinion ruled a woman has a right to protect her life while the dissenting justice say there is no real or implied right to an abortion in the U.S. or the state constitution.

Gov. Kevin Stitt released the following statement after the ruling:

"I wholeheartedly disagree with this activist majority's opinion creating a right to an abortion in Oklahoma. Alarmingly, this activist majority acted out of hand by making a policy decision that belongs to the people. Chief Justice Kane said it best in his well-written dissent: 'This Court should adhere to the Constitution given to us, not craft what we believe to be a "better" Constitution. The power lies with the people.'"

"Furthermore, in their 20 page opinion, not once was there any mention of the unborn. From the moment life begins at conception, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to protect that baby's life and the life of the mother. That is what I believe and that is what the majority of Oklahomans believe which is why the Legislature has passed, and I have signed, numerous laws banning abortion in Oklahoma."

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond released the following statement after the ruling:

“We respect the Court’s ruling and are pleased the justices acknowledged the exception for cases in which the life of the mother is at risk.”