EXPLAINER: Abortion ruling sparks wave of new legal issues

The Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade has set off a frenzy of activity in courthouses around the country, with judges asked to decide when or if state-imposed bans or other far-reaching restrictions on abortion can go into effect.

Some of the disputes involve bans that have been on the books, unenforced, for generations. Some involve “trigger laws” that were specifically designed to take effect if Roe were to fall. Some entail prohibitions on abortion that were held up while the ruling on Roe's fate was awaited and are now moving forward.

To complicate matters, some states have multiple abortion bans in play, and the measures conflict, overlap or are set to take effect at different times.

Here's a look at some of the key legal issues.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The Supreme Court last week struck down the landmark 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide, ruling that the decision to terminate a pregnancy is no longer protected under the U.S. Constitution. The high court left it up to the states to decide whether abortion is now legal within their boundaries.

In anticipation of a ruling like this, several Republican-controlled states passed strict abortion bans in recent years. Some of these “trigger laws” are now going into effect, while some are being blocked, at least temporarily. In some states, older laws that became null and void because of Roe are now resurfacing.

WHAT THIS MEANS ON THE GROUND

The upshot is that many conservative states now have bans or deep restrictions on abortions, while the most liberal states are seeking to add more protections.

Ultimately, roughly half the states are expected to outlaw or severely limit abortion.

But the situation has been highly fluid in recent days, as courts weighed in on disputes between abortion foes and abortion...