Jewish woman's challenge of Kentucky's abortion ban gets green light from appeals court

A Court of Appeals panel has ruled that one of three Jewish women suing the state has standing — the right — to challenge Kentucky’s abortion ban.

Chief Judge Larry E. Thompson and judges Susanne M. Cetrulo and Jeff S. Taylor all agreed on Friday: two of the three women — Lisa Sobel and Sarah Baron — don’t have standing, while the third, Jessica Kalb, does.

This is because Kalb has nine frozen embryos right now that she’s paying to preserve as part of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process and doesn’t know how she can proceed with the process under the state’s restrictions on abortion and definition of life.

Kalb also canceled having an embryo implanted in 2022 “due to her uncertainty surrounding Kentucky’s abortion laws,” according to the ruling, shared with the Lantern by the women’s lawyers.


https://kentuckylantern.com/2025/07/15/jewish-womans-challenge-of-kentuckys-abortion-ban-gets-green-light-from-appeals-court/