After Roe

In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned the federal right to abortion established by Roe v. Wade five decades ago. The legality of abortion access is now determined by each state.

In Wisconsin, an 1849 law interpreted as criminalizing abortion led all abortion clinics in the state to stop offering services while courts determined whether the law was enforceable. On December 5, 2023, a Dane County circuit court issued a final decision which determined that this law does not apply to voluntary abortions. Three months prior, in September 2023, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin resumed abortion services in two locations based on a preliminary ruling in this case.

Even before Dobbs, many Wisconsinites already lacked access to abortion care due to state laws and restrictions. These laws, many of them medically and scientifically unfounded, are again in effect now that abortion services have been reinstated in the state.

Learn more about what the Dobbs decision means for Wisconsin by reading CORE’s briefs, research, and resources linked below.

"Abortion care is an essential component of comprehensive reproductive health care. Lack of access to abortion care will have a profound, lasting impact on the health of individuals, families and communities across Wisconsin."

UW–Madison Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Chair Ellen Hartenbach, MD

Statements and updates from CORE, our department, and professional organizations:

CORE is committed to continuing to work toward our mission.

We conduct and share rigorous, interdisciplinary research to inform policies and programs so that all Wisconsin residents and families may live with reproductive autonomy — able to make decisions about their reproductive health and access needed services without interference or coercion.