Right to Choose

For the second time in four years, a Michigan statute regarding abortion has been stuck down in federal court.

ACLU Press Release: Court Again Upholds A Woman's Right to Choose

A new study shows that gender-based pay inequities cost Michigan women $9 billion a year.

After preventing the 24-hour waiting period/informed consent law from going into effect for nearly six years, the ACLU and the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy settled their respective challenges with the state.

Under the settlement, the harshest provisions of the law have been removed. For example, before the settlement, women living long distances from abortion providers would have been required to make two trips to providers' offices, the first for a doctor to determine the gestational age of the fetus and provide the informed consent materials and the second — at least 24 hours later — for the procedure. Under the agreement, the informed consent materials may be provided through the mail, fax or e-mail and age of the fetus determinations may be made through a phone interview with physicians' assistants. Additionally under the settlement the law will no longer apply to the "morning after pill" or situations where the life or health of the mother is threatened. Mahaffey v. Attorney General. Cooperating attorneys: Eileen Nowikowski and Elizabeth Gleicher. (2001)