US Supreme Court will hear challenge to Texas abortion law

November 13, 2015

The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge to the Texas law that establishes safety standards for abortion clinics.

Abortion providers argue that the new standards would force most of the state’s abortion clinics to close, and the law therefore constitutes a restriction on women’s access to legal abortion.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton counters: “The advancement of the abortion industry’s bottom line shouldn’t take precedent over women’s health, and we look forward to demonstrating the validity of these important health and safety requirements in court.” The law requires abortion clinics to meet the safety standards required of other surgical centers; doctors are required to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. Abortion advocates say that only 10 of the more than 40 abortion clinics currently open in Texas can meet those standards.

The Texas law was enacted in 2013. The Supreme Court will hear the challenge during its spring 2016 term, with a decision expected before the summer. The case will be the first important challenge of abortion restrictions to reach the Supreme Court since 2007.

 

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Further information:

• Supreme Court Accepts Texas Abortion Law Case (New York Times)
• Supreme court to decide major abortion case for first time since 2007 (Reuters)