MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s liberal majority struck down the state’s 176-year-old abortion ban on Wednesday, ruling 4-3 that it was superseded by a newer state law that criminalizes abortions only after a fetus can survive outside the womb.

Wisconsin's Supreme Court issued a ruling that invalidated an 1849 state law banning nearly all abortions, and said Wisconsin women will continue to have access to critical abortion-related health services.