The high court’s June 24 ruling ended federal abortion protections, leaving the matter of abortion rights to be determined by individual states. Terminating a pregnancy remains legal in Illinois, which has strong reproductive rights protections in the Midwest.
A legal battle made headlines across the country, in part because the clinic was championed by then-Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, South Bend’s mayor at the time and the current U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
Indiana lawmakers passed a near-total abortion ban, months after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade despite widespread criticism. The legislation included narrow exceptions for rape, incest, and medical conditions that threaten the mother's life.
Thursday, nearly all abortions must cease in Indiana after state lawmakers passed a full ban in August. Since Dobbs, Indiana has been a destination for those in surrounding states seeking abortions.