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| Supreme Court ruling: Justices strike down controversial Texas abortion law | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| In a landmark decision and victory for reproductive rights advocates in the US, the Supreme Court reversed a controversial Texas law in a 5–3 ruling. | |
| Texas lawmakers passed the controversial House Bill 2, which requires doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges to a hospital within 30 miles of clinics, in June 2013. | Texas lawmakers passed the controversial House Bill 2, which requires doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges to a hospital within 30 miles of clinics, in June 2013. |
| The law shut down 19 of 42 abortion facilities in the state - particularly affecting women in remote areas of the expansive state - and should court decide in favour of the state, only 10 clinics would remain. | The law shut down 19 of 42 abortion facilities in the state - particularly affecting women in remote areas of the expansive state - and should court decide in favour of the state, only 10 clinics would remain. |
| Additionally, the law prohibits abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It also requires women to follow FDA regulations when taking the abortion pill, which must be done in the presence of a physician - requiring two visits to the office for each dose of the medication. | Additionally, the law prohibits abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It also requires women to follow FDA regulations when taking the abortion pill, which must be done in the presence of a physician - requiring two visits to the office for each dose of the medication. |
| "We conclude that neither of these provisions offers medical benefits sufficient to justify the burdens upon access that each imposes," Justice Stephen Breyer wrote in the majority opinon. "Each places a substantial obstacle in the path of women seeking a previability abortion, each constitutes an undue burden on abortion access, ... and each violates the Federal Constitution." | |
| In Whole Woman’s Health v Hellerstedt, opponents of the law argued that the law presented "undue burden" by presenting significant barriers to women. | |
| “What's at stake in this case is whether states can enact laws that restrict access to abortion for pretextual reasons,” said Stephanie Toti, lead counsel for Center for Reproductive Rights representing Whole Woman’s Health, told the Austin Chronicle. “The Supreme Court will have to decide if the courts have to simply defer to the Legislature without scrutinizing its motives or making sure the measures it has adopted are reasonably related to the purported goal of protecting health.” | “What's at stake in this case is whether states can enact laws that restrict access to abortion for pretextual reasons,” said Stephanie Toti, lead counsel for Center for Reproductive Rights representing Whole Woman’s Health, told the Austin Chronicle. “The Supreme Court will have to decide if the courts have to simply defer to the Legislature without scrutinizing its motives or making sure the measures it has adopted are reasonably related to the purported goal of protecting health.” |
| The ruling will come almost three years to the day after former Texas State Sen Wendy Davis embarked on her historical filibuster in an attempt to block the vote on the bill. Ms Davis stood for 13 hours to the roar of thousands of Texas, who showed up to the state capitol to lend their support to the Fort Worth senator. | The ruling will come almost three years to the day after former Texas State Sen Wendy Davis embarked on her historical filibuster in an attempt to block the vote on the bill. Ms Davis stood for 13 hours to the roar of thousands of Texas, who showed up to the state capitol to lend their support to the Fort Worth senator. |
| Filibuster, notwithstanding, then-Gov Rick Perry called for a special session of the state legislature to push the bill through - which he signed into law only weeks after the filibuster. | Filibuster, notwithstanding, then-Gov Rick Perry called for a special session of the state legislature to push the bill through - which he signed into law only weeks after the filibuster. |
| “Are y’all feeling the same nervousness as I am about tomorrow’s [Supreme Court] decision in #WholeWomansHealth,” Ms Davis tweeted Sunday evening. “I’d filibuster again if I could…” | “Are y’all feeling the same nervousness as I am about tomorrow’s [Supreme Court] decision in #WholeWomansHealth,” Ms Davis tweeted Sunday evening. “I’d filibuster again if I could…” |