Abortion is a medical procedure that ends a pregnancy. The legality of abortion has been litigated in the U.S. Supreme Court and other courts since the 1973 case of Roe v. Wade.
In 2022, in the case titled Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, the Supreme Court reversed its decision in Roe v. Wade. The legality of abortion—including access to the procedure and any restrictions on it—is now determined on a state by state basis, with each state's abortion laws applying only within its borders.
In Utah, the regulation of abortion has been significantly influenced by the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed states to regulate abortion without the framework established by Roe. Following the Dobbs decision, Utah's trigger law, the 'Abortion Prohibition Amendments,' came into effect, banning most abortions with a few exceptions. These exceptions include cases of rape or incest (reported to law enforcement), if the life of the mother is at risk, or if the fetus has a lethal defect or severe brain abnormality. The law makes performing an illegal abortion a second-degree felony, but the woman who undergoes the procedure cannot be prosecuted. It's important to note that legal challenges and injunctions may affect the enforceability of these laws, and individuals seeking or providing abortion services should consult with an attorney to understand the current legal status.