Federal Court Ruling: Strict Abortion Law in Texas Is Constitutional; May Close All but Seven Clinics Statewide

A federal appeals court upheld strict abortion restrictions was passed by the state of Texas on Tuesday. That decision means that as few as seven abortion clinics could stay open in that state based on those regulations.

According to a report in the Associated Press, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals made a decision that would allow Texas to require abortion clinics to meet “hospital-level” operating standards. The restrictions were approved in 2013 by a Republican-dominated state government.

“Abortion practitioners should have no right to operate their businesses from sub-standard facilities and with doctors who lack admitting privileges at a hospital,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, said.

However, pro-choice groups told the Associated Press that they will appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, which temporarily halted enforcement of the law last year. Nancy Northrop, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, expressed dismay with the lower court’s decision.

“Not since before Roe v. Wade has a law or court decision had the potential to devastate access to reproductive health care on such a sweeping scale,” Northrop said. “We now look to the Justices to stop the sham laws that are shutting clinics down and placing countless women at risk of serious harm.” (Read more from “Federal Court Ruling: Strict Abortion Law in Texas Is Constitutional” HERE)

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