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Melissa Owens

Melissa Owens

Judge, Teton County District Court

Appears in 1 story

Notable Quotes

The Health Care Amendment does not prohibit a person from making their own health care decision if their decision impacts any other person.

Stories

The 2012 amendment that saved abortion in Wyoming

Rule Changes

Issued initial ruling striking down abortion bans

Wyoming Republicans passed the nation's first explicit abortion pill ban in 2023, confident they'd finally ended abortion access in the state. On January 6, 2026, the state Supreme Court struck it down 4-1—using a constitutional amendment those same Republicans championed in 2012 to fight Obamacare. Turns out a provision guaranteeing adults can 'make their own health care decisions' applies to terminating pregnancies, too.

Updated Jan 7