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Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, a Republican whose district covers part of rural Powell, is at the center of the fight against a lawsuit that has blocked implementation of a law to end nearly all …
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Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, a Republican whose district covers part of rural Powell, is at the center of the fight against a lawsuit that has blocked implementation of a law to end nearly all abortions in the state.
Rodriguez-Williams and Rep. Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, recently joined with Right to Life of Wyoming, to ask the court for permission to intervene so they can provide arguments and evidence that there is no state constitutional right to an abortion and that abortion harms women and unborn children.
Rodriguez-Williams sponsored the “trigger bill” in the 2022 session that was passed by large margins in the state House and Senate in Cheyenne and signed by Gov. Mark Gordon. That law went into effect after Gov. Gordon on July 22 certified House Bill 92 following the analysis of the state attorney general.
“I believe that the decision to regulate abortion is properly left to the states,” he said at the time. “As a pro-life governor, my focus will continue to be on ensuring we are doing all we can to support Wyoming mothers, children and families.”
Before the law could truly go into effect, a lawsuit was filed in Teton County, Johnson v. State of Wyoming, challenging the law and leading the judge to stay the enactment of the bill, which bans all abortions with the exception of those done to preserve the life the mother or in the case of rape or incest.
The brief in support of the motion to intervene says, in part, “The Legislators and Wyoming Right to Life would provide expert evidence and testimony to show the harms to women and unborn children from abortion itself, which evidence rebuts the claim that elective abortion is properly considered health care.” The motion also states that proposed intervenors “seek intervention to protect and defend their interests, which include preserving the authority of the Legislature to protect unborn life, protect the health and safety of women, and regulate the medical profession — as well as advocating for laws that respect the sanctity of human life.”
As of Aug. 31 the court had granted a request by the plaintiffs in the case for an extension in order to respond to the motion to intervene.
