Andrew Bailey

After Missouri voters passed Amendment 3 in November, enshrining the right to an abortion, Planned Parenthood sued to strike down several abortion restrictions in state law. A judge on Friday blocked some but not all of the restrictions.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page nominated Cort VanOstran to the post Dec. 3, but Gov. Mike Parson has challenged Page’s authority to do so in court.

After voters approved Amendment 3 in November, Planned Parenthood attorneys want to overturn a number of Missouri laws that regulate abortion services and providers. A court decision on the lawsuit could come soon.

In June, a judge overturned Hemme’s conviction for the 1980 murder of a librarian from St. Joseph, Missouri. After five months of legal battles, the same judge signed the final order granting her freedom.

Anti-abortion rights groups and politicians argued before the November election that Amendment 3 would block most abortion restrictions. But Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is now arguing it doesn’t overturn some restrictions on clinics.

Cort VanOstran resigned his job as a federal prosecutor this week. He was in private practice before that and ran for Congress in 2018.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday in St. Louis County Circuit Court argues that because prosecutors exercise police powers, the governor should appoint the successor to Wesley Bell.

The leader of Planned Parenthood Great Plains says the move is a ploy to prevent a Jackson County judge from potentially knocking down other abortion restrictions.

Scharf, a Clayton resident, served as one of Donald Trump’s attorneys through his criminal legal proceedings.

Republicans won all the statewide offices up for election Tuesday including attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer and lieutenant governor.