ROE RECKONINGS: Rights on Trial in Post-Roe America

Since our last Roe Reckonings, abortion rights in the US have continued to be shaped by courtroom battles, statehouse manoeuvres and renewed attempts to criminalise care. From trials testing voter-mandated protections to fresh legislative threats designed to roll back access, the post-Roe reality remains volatile and deeply unequal.

🗞️ THE NEWS

Missouri abortion-rights trial begins

A major trial has opened in Missouri, examining decades of state abortion restrictions, even after voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2024 protecting reproductive healthcare. Providers and advocates argue many of these rules are unconstitutional under the new amendment.

Read:
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/news/2026/01/13/opening-day-of-missouri-abortion-rights-trial-focuses-on-decades-of-state-restrictions
https://www.kctv5.com/2026/01/13/missouri-abortion-trial-begins-kansas-city/

Why it matters:
This case shows that ballot wins don’t end the fight. Anti-choice forces are using the courts to delay, dilute and undermine voter-mandated protections.

South Carolina lawmakers signal new restrictions

In South Carolina, legislators are preparing to introduce “sweeping” new abortion restrictions in the 2026 session. Campaigners warn the proposals could significantly curtail access and roll back existing protections.

Read:
https://wpde.com/news/local/sc-legislators-set-to-announce-sweeping-abortion-policy-proposal

Why it matters:
Even in states without total bans, rights remain precarious. Lawmakers are constantly testing how far they can push restrictions.

Criminalisation continues to spread

Advocacy groups report new bills in several states that would equate abortion with homicide and impose severe criminal penalties on people seeking or supporting abortion care, including for medication abortion.

Read:
https://www.aclusc.org/news/statehouse-dispatch-jan-12-2026/

Why it matters:
This is about punishment, not protection. Criminalising pregnancy outcomes drives care underground.

🧠 LESSONS

• Courts are now central battlegrounds for abortion access
• Legislatures remain hostile terrain even where abortion is still legal
• Criminalisation is the endgame for anti-choice extremists
• Voter wins must be defended long after the ballots are counted