State Constitutional Protection

A state court held that the Illinois Constitution protects the right to reproductive choice to a greater extent than the federal Constitution.  The court held that a law prohibiting state medical assistance for an abortion when necessary to protect a woman's health is unconstitutional under the state constitution when state funding is available for an abortion when necessary to preserve her life.  Doe v. Wright, No. 91 CH 1958 (Ill. Cir. Ct. 1994).  This restriction has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court under the federal Constitution.  Williams v. Zbaraz, 448 U.S. 358 (1980).