|
The Supreme Court rules in Texas anti-abortion law. |
The Supreme Court struck down the anti-abortion law that the state of Texas passed in 2013. The 5-3 decision was a blow to conservatives. This decision eliminates a state's attempt to pass restrictive laws to curb a woman's right to choice. This is the biggest ruling since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
The Texas statute was to close up a handful of abortion clinics in the state. The Court ruled it unconstitutional.
The Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt is the most significant ruling for pro-choice activists. If the ruling went the other way, states would impose stricter laws preventing abortion.
Texas insisted that the HB 2 law was constitutional. Ruth Bader Ginsburg questioned the state's law.
She wondered how this bill would help women who wanted a safe term. Texas was mandating that abortion clinics undergo costly upgrades to look like hospitals and abortion providers must get "special privileges" at hospitals. It was a backdoor plot to eliminate abortion clinics.
Stephen Breyer wrote in his decision that "the surgical-center requirement, like the admitting privileges requirement, provides few, if any, health benefits for women, poses a substantial obstacle to women seeking abortions and constitutes an 'undue burden' on their constitutional right to do so".
Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott wasn't pleased about this decision. Lila Rose and her allies in the anti-choice movement were hoping to gain momentum.
The Center for Medical Progress was partly involved in this as well. The ringleader of the anti-choice group tried to infiltrate Planned Parenthood facilities to expose executives taking pride in terming live fetuses.
Former state lawmaker Wendy Davis got some vindication. She fought this all the way to the Court.
Her failed bid for governor was a downer but to watch Abbott fail at his job is probably the sweetest revenge she's gotten so far today.
Anthony Kennedy joins Elena Kagan, Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Sonia Sotomayor in the decision to spare abortion rights.
Chief Justice John Roberts, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented the decision.
This polarizing decision comes a week after the Court struck down President Barack Obama's executive action on immigration. Conservatives were happy Obama was handed a defeat. Now this decision will have conservatives concerned.
With an evenly split court, most of the rulings conservatives supported could be at risk of being tossed out or stuck down. Republicans continue to delay the nomination of Merrick Garland.
They believe that Obama's pick could swing the Court in a progressive direction. It's too late.
Truly, this was a blow to conservatives and the anti-choice movement.
Women have a right to choice. Although I am no fan of termination, I do support a woman's right to do so. It's a freedom that helps protect a woman's health.
Would you allow a woman to carry a rapist's baby?
Would you allow a woman to die if the baby was causing her health to decline?
An unwanted pregnancy is a dangerous experience for women. If the Court was to deny women a right to choice, the black market abortion providers would be on the rise.