On Monday, June 29, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court issued the long-awaited ruling in the June Medical Services v. Russo matter. In a 5-4 decision, June Medical Services prevailed and the Louisiana law requiring abortion providers to have hospital admitting privileges within 30 miles of the clinic was found to be unconstitutional, and it was also ruled that the state of Louisiana had waived the question of third party standing, therefore providers will be able to continue to file suit on behalf of patients.

There was a lot riding on this decision. Had the Court ruled that admitting privileges were required, Lousiana would have been reduced to one clinic. States would have taken that as a signal that this was an acceptable requirement, and a new onerous law would have been added in many states. Many clinics wouldn't be able to get admitting privileges, due to abortion stigma, the bullying of antis, and the fact that abortion is a very safe procedure that requires very little admitting to hospitals. Then even more clinics would close, which was the actual goal of this law.

We shouldn't even be here. This identical matter was settled in 2016 in Hellerstedt v. Whole Woman's Health in Texas. Louisiana's law was found by the Court to be identical. But the 5th Circuit Court, loaded with conservatives and seeing a new Supreme Court since 2016 with the addition of the conservative Justice Kavanaugh, thought it would give it a shot and ruled the Louisiana law would stand, setting up this ruling, hoping for a different result. Because abortion.

We celebrate today. And the fight continues.

Engagement matters. YOUR engagement matters.

Links for more info:

The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/…/abortion-ruling-supreme-court…

Politico: https://www.politico.com/…/supreme-court-louisiana-abortion…

Statement from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: https://www.acog.org/…/acog-statement-on-june-medical-servi…

#abortionishealthcare #abortionisessential #abortionexceptionalism #thisclinicstaysopen #engagementmatters #weengage #pinkhousedefender