Supreme Court to Hear First Abortion Challenge of Kavanaugh’s Tenure

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 despite the fact that it would leave only one abortion provider in the entire state.

Jennifer Dalven, director of the ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Project, had the following response:

“Just three years ago, the Supreme Court held that a virtually identical law served no medical purpose and was unconstitutional. If the rule of law means anything, it means that the Court cannot sit by and watch as the lower court thumbs its nose at Supreme Court precedent and at people’s constitutional rights. We hope and expect that the Court will strike down this unconstitutional law, which would decimate access to abortion for people in Louisiana.”