Abortion Policy, Law & Politics

Amanda Jablonski and Brandon Chancey, a Tennessee couple, traveled to Chicago to obtain a late abortion after learning their unborn daughter Daisy had anencephaly at 22 weeks because Tennessee law did not allow it without immediate risk to the mother's health. Tennessee law permits abortion only under specific health risk criteria, which the couple's doctors did not find met, and many women with anencephalic pregnancies carry to term with perinatal hospice support.

Tennessee abortion education groups sue over records demand    The Leaf-Chronicle

Tennessee abortion education groups sue over records demand    columbiadailyherald.com

Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down Tennessee’s “Abortion Trafficking” Law in Win for Rep. Aftyn Behn and Attorney Rachel Welty – The Tennessee Tribune    The Tennessee Tribune

Major win in court for Tennessee abortion advocates    local3news.com

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a block on a provision of a Tennessee law that made it a felony to recruit a minor for an out-of-state abortion without parental permission, ruling that it violated the plaintiffs' First Amendment right to free speech. The court's 2-1 decision maintained the ruling that the law criminalized speech encouraging abortion but did not regulate speech encouraging carrying a pregnancy to term, while other provisions of the law prohibiting transporting a minor out of state for an abortion remained in effect.

Federal judge rules against portion of Tennessee abortion law    WKRN News 2

Judge blocks part of Tennessee abortion law    WKRN News 2

In September 2026, a Sixth Circuit panel with judges appointed by Obama and Biden struck down Tennessee's law criminalizing adults recruiting, harboring, or transporting pregnant minors for abortions without parental consent, ruling it violated the First Amendment. The ruling criticized the law for criminalizing speech encouraging abortion while remaining silent on speech encouraging carrying a pregnancy to term, while Tennessee's ban on harboring or transporting minors for abortions remains in effect.

Tennessee ‘abortion trafficking’ law violates First Amendment    Courthouse News

A Tennessee law preventing adults from giving information to minors about legal out-of-state abortions will remain blocked, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled Thursday. ​A three-judge panel agreed with a federal district judge that barring adults from giving out information about abortions violates the First Amendment. ​Senior United States Judge Jane […]

Tennessee Underage Abortion Recruitment Law Blocked by Court    State Affairs Pro

Tennessee’s Abortion ‘Recruitment’ Ban Deemed Unconstitutional    Bloomberg Law News

As Tennessee AG seeks abortion records, a nonprofit pushes back in court    wpln.org

East Tennessee couple forced to travel for life-saving procedure due to state's abortion law restrictions    WBIR

Commentary: Four years after Tennessee "trigger law," poll shows Tennesseans favor abortion ban exceptions    Tennessee Lookout

Times Opinion: Is abortion in Tennessee a dead issue?    timesfreepress.com

These Republican lawmakers challenged abortion bans. Then they faced backlash.    Tennessee Lookout

Appeals Judges Weigh Tennessee Abortion Trafficking Law Defense    Bloomberg Law News

Tennessee pushes to revive abortion 'trafficking' law at Sixth Circuit    Courthouse News

Three Years into Tennessee’s Abortion Ban, Legal Maneuvers Continue    Nashville Banner

Tennessee Mom Forced to Travel for Emergency Abortion    Ms. Magazine

Tennessee’s abortion ban won’t go on trial as attorney general taps new law    wpln.org

A Tennessee woman needed an abortion to save her life. She then joined a lawsuit against the state’s ban    theguardian.com

Tennessee abortion ban trial indefinitely delayed    Nashville Banner