Judge denies injunctive relief to Mississippi’s only abortion clinic

On Tuesday, Chancellor Debbra Halford denied the request for preliminary injunctive relief concerning Jackson Women’s Health Organization v. Dobbs.

On June 24, the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade. A historical decision that was met with just as much outrage as celebration. Arguments were made that previous Mississippi court rulings still supported the right to abortion in the state. Others believed just the opposite; that the SCOTUS decision nullified past rulings which were based on Roe.

With Mississippi set to have its trigger law go into effect on Thursday, all eyes have turned to Chancellor Debbra Halford. Halford was appointed by Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Randolph to preside over the case after all Hinds County chancery judges recused themselves.

On Tuesday, Chancellor Halford held a hearing on the matter and filed a Decorum Order.

The order states in part, “The Mississippi constitutional protection for abortion is based on judicial interpretation by the Fordice Court of Section 32 of the Mississippi Constitution which fails to mention abortion, in significant reliance on Roe and Casey, neither of which remain good law. This Court cannot find that enjoining enforcement of two properly enacted statutes in deference to a case whose constitutionality has come into such strong challenge is consistent with public interest.”

A full copy of the order can be downloaded here.