Akers v. State of Maryland

Overview

(Supreme Court of Maryland, Feb. 19, 2025): The Supreme Court of Maryland ruled in favor of a woman convicted of murder following a stillbirth, concluding her internet searches about abortion and lack of prenatal care should not have been admitted as evidence because her abortion research and lack of prenatal care did not show intent to commit a crime. The court ordered a new trial without the presentation of inadmissible evidence. This ruling impliedly rejects the concept of “fetal personhood” by concluding the consideration of abortion and lack of prenatal care bear no logical connection to whether someone intends to cause harm to a person. Read the full opinion here.

View all cases in the Judicial Trends in Public Health – May 20, 2025.

View all cases under “Reproductive Liberties and Care Access.”