In a recent development, a judge has ordered Lorna Green, the woman responsible for setting fire to Wyoming's only full-service abortion clinic, to pay nearly $300,000 in restitution. This amount, which was the full sum sought by prosecutors, will go towards compensating the insurance company, building owner, and clinic founder. Lorna Green is currently serving a five-year prison sentence for her arson attack on Wellspring Health Access, which occurred just weeks before the clinic was set to open in Casper in 2022. The fire not only gutted the building but also caused a delay in the clinic's opening by almost a year.

Wellspring Health Access, which opened its doors this past April, is now the sole abortion clinic in Wyoming. The closure of a clinic in Jackson, which provided pill abortions, due to rising costs has left Wellspring as the only option for women seeking abortion services in the state. U.S. District Judge Alan Johnson's order on Tuesday required Green, a 22-year-old woman, to pay approximately $298,000 in restitution. This includes $240,000 to the clinic's insurer, Nationwide General Insurance Company, $33,500 to the building's owner, Christine Lichtenfels, and $24,500 to Julie Burkhart, founder and president of Wellspring Health Access.

Julie Burkhart expressed her satisfaction with the judge's decision, stating that the restitution would help the clinic recover financially from the arson attack. She mentioned the emotional and financial struggles that the clinic had faced and expressed relief that this final piece had been put to rest. Green's attorney, Ryan Semerad, did not oppose the restitution amounts sought by prosecutors and instead stated that Green looks forward to a productive and peaceful life after her incarceration.

Lorna Green has expressed remorse for her actions, attributing them to anxiety and nightmares surrounding the planned clinic. Surprisingly, the mechanical engineering student from Casper College had shown no signs of anti-abortion views on social media. However, during the investigation, she admitted to opposing abortion and driving from Laramie to Casper to carry out the attack. Green broke into the clinic through a door and proceeded to pour gasoline in trays and splash it on the floor, igniting the fire. It took months of little progress before investigators increased the reward to $15,000, which eventually led to Green's arrest in March. In June, Green pleaded guilty to arson and received the minimum prison sentence, despite facing a potential 20-year sentence.

The arson incident and subsequent opening of the clinic occurred amidst new laws in Wyoming that aim to ban abortion in nearly all cases. These laws, which include the nation's first explicit ban on abortion pills, have been temporarily put on hold by a judge due to a lawsuit filed by four women and two nonprofits, including Wellspring Health Access. Wyoming District Judge Melissa Owens heard arguments in the lawsuit on December 14 and is currently considering whether to rule on the laws. It is highly likely that her decision will be appealed, ultimately leading to Wyoming's abortion laws being reviewed by the state Supreme Court.