US governor asks court to recognise abortion rights

Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer launched a preemptive lawsuit on Thursday to protect abortion rights, asking a court to recognise a right to abortion under the state constitution and to overturn a 176-year-old ban in the state that may take effect if the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling is voided.

The Democratic governor’s lawsuit, which was filed in 13 counties with an abortion clinic, came as the US Supreme Court’s conservative majority considers allowing states to ban abortion much earlier in pregnancy and potentially overturning the right.