Naisha Mercury, J.D. is Equal Justice Works Fellow with the Network for Public Health Law-Mid-States region. Prior to joining the Network Naisha worked on community centered legal and health initiatives. She was a Resident at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, focusing on initiatives and research centered around reproductive health, women’s health, and family impacts within the justice system.

Naisha also previously served as a Law Clerk with the Network. She then honed her expertise in reproductive health research as a Public Health Law Intern with at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Naisha received her Bachelor of Science in Health Service Management from East Carolina University and later attended Elon University School of Law, where she received her J.D. While studying at Elon Law, Naisha reestablished the school’s Society of Health Law and Bioethics chapter, where she served as the 2023-2024 President.

Articles & Resources

Bleeding Behind Bars: Addressing Menstrual Equity in Carceral Facilities

Law & Policy InsightsReproductive Health and Equity Mechanisms for Advancing Health Equity

August 5, 2025
by Naisha Mercury

Menstrual health is a major area of reproductive health often overshadowed for the estimated 79.8 percent of those in carceral facilities of reproductive age. For some, menstrual hygiene products are easily accessible, whereas for others it is a constant struggle. Meaningful progress toward comprehensive menstrual equity for all incarcerated individuals remains limited and inconsistent across jurisdictions. 

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­Restrictions on the Right to Travel for Out-of-State Abortion Care

Issue BriefReproductive Health and Equity 

May 28, 2025
by Kathleen Hoke and Naisha Mercury

As a result of the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs, advocates on both sides of the abortion issue turned to state constitutions to determine the contours of a right to abortion or to make clear no such right exists under state law. When abortion was on the ballot in 2022, voters in several states rallied to enshrine the right to abortion in state constitutions and rejected attempts to further restrict abortions in their states. In the wake of these successful ballot measures, state legislators throughout the country have sought to amend ballot initiative processes ahead of the 2024 elections. This fact sheet outlines recent proposed amendments by several states that are intended to thwart pro-abortion ballot initiatives.

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