JACKSON, Miss., Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Mississippi voters should decide on a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would declare fetuses persons, the state Supreme Court said.
The court ruled 7-2 late Thursday, CNN reported. The justices rejected a challenge by abortion rights groups and the American Civil Liberties Union to Measure 26, the Personhood Amendment.
"We cannot invade the territory of the legislature or the electorate to review the substantive validity of a proposed initiative, and thereby, we will honor the maxim embodied in the constitutional mandate of separation of powers," Justice Randy Pierce said in the majority opinion.
Backers of the amendment say they hope to give the U.S. Supreme Court an opening to overturn Roe vs. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that effectively legalized abortion throughout the United States. Anti-abortion groups hope to get similar measures on the ballot next year in at least three other states -- Florida, Ohio and Montana -- the report said.
