A judge has ruled that Missouri’s near-total abortion ban is unenforceable under a new constitutional amendment.

Missourians voted to add the right to abortion until viability into their state constitution—making their state one of ten to enshrine abortion rights since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. But simply having the constitutional right to abortion does not alone change anything on the ground: The courts must enforce this right by affirming that anti-abortion laws violate states’ newly amended constitutions.

A state judge on Friday ruled Missouri's nearly total abortion ban violates the state's Constitution as amended by voters on Nov. 5 and partially blocked enforcement of the abortion law.

Because some licensing restrictions are still on the books, Planned Parenthood providers said they cannot perform abortions even after an order lifted the state's overall abortion ban.

Because some of Missouri's licensing restrictions are still on the books, Planned Parenthood providers said they cannot perform abortions even after an order lifted the state's overall abortion ban.