The Wisconsin Supreme Court has struck down the state’s 176-year-old abortion ban. The court’s liberal majority ruled 4-3 on Wednesday that the ban is no longer valid because newer abortion restrictions superseded it.

Wisconsin justices ruled 4-3 to overturn a near abortion ban, a reflection of the court's liberal majority and an election that attracted millions in campaign donations.

Wisconsin's top state court ruled on Wednesday that an 1849 state law banning abortion in virtually all cases cannot be enforced, rejecting claims it had been revived after a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling three years ago returned the authority to regulate abortion to individual states.