Supreme Court Takes Big Abortion Case

The Supreme Court will weigh in on abortion—specifically, a law that opponents say would effectively limit Louisiana to one abortion provider. The court said Friday that it would take up the law signed in 2014 requiring doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles. The court struck down a similar Texas law in a 5-3 vote in 2016, arguing the condition put an "undue burden" on women seeking abortion, reports ABC News. This, however, will be "the first major test of how the court’s new conservative majority will approach the issue of reproductive rights," per CNBC.

The court put the law on hold in a 5-4 vote in February. President Trump's two appointees, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, joined Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas in dissenting. In other words, they "would have allowed Louisiana to begin enforcing the clinic regulations," Time reported. Louisiana, home to three licensed abortion clinics, argues the law is necessary to regulate clinics and ensure patient safety, though the Center for Reproductive Rights says it would leave "only one doctor to care for every woman seeking an abortion in the state," per CNN. Justices are likely to hear oral arguments early next year, with a decision expected by the end of June. (Kavanaugh is facing calls for impeachment.)