“And this decision says in no uncertain terms that that is impermissible”, Rebecca L. Robertson, legal and policy director for the ACLU of Texas, said. “This is not an immediate reversal of our law”.
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“Because if Hillary Clinton is the next president and has a chance to appoint three or four Supreme Court justices over the next several years”, he said, “these decisions won’t be narrow decisions”. Ideally, it will discourage other states from proposing similar laws.
The Texas law required all abortions be performed in strictly-regulated surgical centers, with standards including sizes of rooms and doorways and staffing levels, and required that all doctors maintain admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. Abortion doctors would need hospital admitting privileges or clinics would have to have a transfer agreement with a hospital close by.
“Anti-abortion groups in New Zealand closely follow USA tactics, and they’re already misusing safety and health concerns to promote their agenda”, Ms Bellamak says.
“We are disappointed in the Supreme Court’s ruling, but the Governor will continue the fight to make Kansas a pro-life state”, Eileen Hawley, spokeswoman for Gov. Sam Brownback, said in an email.
“It might be a challenge for them to claim an undue burden when in fact they asked for and obtained admitting privileges”, he said.
Abortion rights activists have claimed a victory after the US Supreme Court ruled in their favour striking down a Texas law which imposes strict regulations on abortion provision.
As part of the North Dakota settlement, the parties in agreed to dismiss the case with no costs or attorney fees paid.
The high court’s ruling on Monday also tossed out a provision in the Texas law requiring abortion clinics to have costly hospital-grade facilities in addition to the “admitting privileges” mandate.
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Monday’s decision was lauded in Kansas by abortion rights supporters who contend it clearly tells legislatures that such laws are unconstitutional. Other measures included banning an abortion if a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which could be as early as six weeks into a pregnancy and before some women know they are pregnant. The justices on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, turned away the states appeal of lower court rulings that struck down the 2013 fetal heartbeat law as unconstitutional.
