Oklahoma court tosses ‘personhood’ amendment

The Oklahoma Supreme Court unanimously tossed out a proposed “personhood” amendment Monday, yet another setback for the controversial movement that has divided abortion-rights opponents.

The personhood movement supports amending state constitutions to say that life begins at the moment of fertilization — a definition that would likely impede women’s access to contraception and in vitro fertilization.

The personhood proposal in Oklahoma is “clearly unconstitutional,” the state supreme court said in a unanimous ruling Monday. Abortion-rights supporters hailed the decision.

“This amendment would have run roughshod over the fundamental, constitutionally protected reproductive rights of all Oklahoma women,” said Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which filed the legal challenge in Oklahoma.

Personhood advocates are trying to get their proposals on the ballot this fall in several states, including swing states such as Florida and Colorado. But so far they’ve made little progress.

A federal judge in Nevada blocked a personhood measure from appearing on the state’s ballot in November. And voters in Mississippi rejected "personhood" last year, a sign that the movement is struggling to gain support even in deeply conservative states.

Colorado voters have twice defeated personhood measures.

---