States readying laws as abortion gets court study

For decades, socially conservative lawmakers in states across the country passed sweeping abortion restrictions only to see them struck down by federal judges.

While unenforced, these measures remain on the books in Arkansas and elsewhere.

Now, with the U.S. Supreme Court considering the constitutionality of Mississippi's 15-week ban, Republican-leaning states are dusting off these long-dormant laws -- and they're passing new ones -- so they'll be ready if the justices allow additional limits.

In recent years, states have passed scores of new abortion restrictions.

"Red states like Arkansas are trying to force the court's hand by passing statutes that cannot be reconciled with Roe [v. Wade] in any colorable way," said Josh Silverstein, a professor at the William H. Bowen School of Law in Little Rock.