WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court announced today it would hear arguments in June Medical Services v. Gee, which challenges Louisiana’s law requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a local hospital.
Just three years ago, in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, the Supreme Court held that a nearly identical Texas law served no medical purpose and was unconstitutional. Nonetheless, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit defied that ruling and upheld Louisiana’s requirement.
Alanah Odoms Hebert, executive director of the ACLU of Louisiana, made the following statement:
“This law would decimate access to abortion in Louisiana and is virtually identical to a law the Supreme Court recently struck down. In that case, the justices ruled correctly that these restrictions serve no medical purpose and are a sham intended to eliminate access to abortion and block people from making their own personal medical decisions. It’s alarming that the Supreme Court would agree to reopen an issue it resolved clearly and decisively just three years ago. The people of Louisiana are counting on the Supreme Court to uphold its own precedent and protect their constitutional rights by striking down these harmful restrictions once again.”
The Center for Reproductive Rights originally filed this case in August, 2014. Plaintiffs are a women’s health center, doctors and their patients. Julie Rikelman and Travis J. Tu are lead counsel for plaintiffs, along with local counsel Larry Samuel.
