Filed Date: Oct. 28, 2009
Closed Date: Nov. 24, 2009
Clearinghouse coding complete
This case is about a state ballot initiative seeking to recognize fetuses as “persons” under the state constitution.
On October 28, 2009 three Missouri citizens, represented by the ACLU, the ACLU of Eastern Missouri, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America, filed suit against Missouri’s Secretary of State and State Auditor in the Circuit Court of Cole County, Missouri. Plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief to block a ballot initiative seeking to amend Missouri’s constitution to define “person” as “every human being from the beginning of the biological development of that human being.” Plaintiffs challenged the ballot initiative under Missouri state law, alleging that the initiative’s summary statement was insufficient and unfair because it did not adequately inform voters as to the initiative’s far reaching consequences; that the fiscal note and fiscal note summary associated with the initiative failed to meet the statutory requirement that it “state the measure’s estimated cost or savings”; that the initiative petition violated form requirements because it failed to provide information about what sections of the existing state constitution is would have altered; and that the initiative petition violated the single subject and clear title requirement of the state constitution because of the initiative’s far reaching consequences. The case was assigned to Judge Patrica Joyce.
On May 25, 2010 the court entered a judgment to dismiss the petition.
This case is now closed.
Summary Authors
Daria Wick (3/26/2025)
Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:30 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Missouri
Case Type(s):
Healthcare Access and Reproductive Issues
Key Dates
Filing Date: Oct. 28, 2009
Closing Date: Nov. 24, 2009
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Three Missouri citizens -- a doctor, lawyer, and a medical student.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Defendant
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Reproductive rights:
Reproductive health care (including birth control, abortion, and others)