Courts On the Hill Reproductive Rights

Supreme Court to Hear Louisiana Abortion Case Next Term

The Supreme Court announced on Friday that it will take up a controversial abortion case next term, a first since Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Grouch have joined the court. Many are worried that the now conservative majority court will use this as an opportunity to rule against abortion rights. 

The Louisiana case, June Medical Services v Gee, concerns a local Louisiana law passed in 2014 that requires abortion providers to obtain admitting privileges from a nearby hospital. The law which had been struck down by a federal judge in 2017, has been argued by the state as being necessary for providing a higher quality of healthcare to patients.  

Critics on the other hand believe this is en effort to further restrict access to reproductive care. The Center for Reproductive Rights said that if the law goes into effect, it will leave “only one doctor for every woman seeking an abortion in the state.” 

The court struck down a nearly identical Texas case, Whole Woman’s Health v Hellerstedt, in 2016. However that was before the retirement of swing justice Anthony Kennedy, and the admission of Justices Kavanaugh and Grouch. 

Many fear the new composition of the Supreme Court could put the 1973 landmark abortion rights decision, Roe v Wade, at risk. 

Source: Huffpost 10/4/2019 , CNN 10/4/2019

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