Progressives Look to Pardon Power as Abortion Access Fix

Welcome back to another edition of Opening Argument, a reported column where I dig into complicated novel questions of law and unpack disputes that are dividing appeals courts. Today: A look at pardon power and its use in the fight over abortion.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) has found a way to side-step a 19th century abortion ban that kicked in after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and the state’s Republican-controlled legislature refused to repeal it.

The law, which passed 16 years before the Civil War started and 71 years before women were allowed to vote, says ...