Ashcroft’s application to transfer abortion ballot summary case to Missouri Supreme Court denied
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri Supreme Court on Monday denied Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s appeal to move a case involving the ballot summary on abortion to the Missouri Supreme Court.
Ashcroft previously tried to move the case to the Missouri Supreme Court, but that was overruled and denied. He filed a notice to transfer on Friday.
Last month, Cole County Judge Jon Beteem rewrote the ballot summary language. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Attorney General Andrew Bailey sought the Appeals Court to overrule that judge's decision to rewrite the ballot language.
The initiative petition aims to codify abortion rights in the Missouri Constitution. There are 11 total rights it outlines, including access to abortion, birth control and miscarriage management. The petition also outlines parameters for each of those rights. Several versions of the petition are filed and available for viewing on the Secretary of State's website.
The Missouri Western District Appeals Court sided with Beetem's decision to reword the ballot summary. The court wrote in its majority opinion on Tuesday that language used in Ashcroft’s initial summary was “partisan.” Several alternative statements were approved by the court.
