Anticipating renewed fights over abortion, some governors and state lawmakers already are looking for ways to enhance or dismantle the right in their own constitutions and laws.
President Donald Trump's nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court has raised both fears and hopes that a conservative court majority could weaken or overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that created a nationwide right to abortion.
That could fan an already raging battle in states over what should and should not be legal.
Some Democratic elected officials want to enact new abortion protections and repeal dormant laws that criminalize abortion. Some of those laws date to the 19th century but remain on the books.
At the same time, 17 states already have laws that could be used to restrict the legal status of abortions if Roe is overturned or severely limited.
