More Information on the Supreme Court Striking Down Texas Abortion Law

In a victory for the pro-choice movement, the Supreme Court voted 5-3 to overturn a controversial Texas law that would have shut down most of the state’s abortion clinics. The court’s liberal wing was joined by Justice Anthony Kennedy.

The majority decision was authored by Justice Stephen Breyer. Justice Breyer argued that Texas’ law would place an “undue burden” on women seeking to exercise their constitutional rights.

“There was no significant health-related problem that the new law helped to cure. We agree with the District Court 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.”

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote a concurring opinion where she argued that such restrictions could force desperate women to seek out dangerous alternatives in the absence of licensed abortion clinics. “When a State severely limits access to safe and legal procedures, women in desperate circumstances may resort to unlicensed rogue practitioners, faute de mieux, at great risk to their health and safety.”

The decision is a boost to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. The presumptive Democratic nominee has pledged to continue fighting for women’s right and warned that the fight is not over.  “Our fight is far from over. In Texas and across the country, a woman’s constitutional right to make her own health decisions is under attack. In the first three months of 2016, states introduced more than 400 measures restricting access to abortion.”

GOP nominee Donald Trump has not weighed in on the decision, but other Republican leaders have. Texas Governor Greg Abbot claims the decision will put women’s health at risk and is an assault on the power of the states.  “The decision erodes States’ lawmaking authority to safeguard the health and safety of women and subjects more innocent life to being lost. Texas’ goal is to protect innocent life, while ensuring the highest health and safety standards for women.”

House Speaker Paul Ryan took to Twitter to voice his disappointment over the decision.

Despite today’s decision, it is likely that abortion will continue to be an issue in the 2016 election and beyond. We’ll have more details as this story develops.

Featured image via Pixabay.