The scene outside the U.S. Supreme Court the day June Medical case was argued in March 2020.
The U.S. Supreme Court did its job today and upheld clear precedent.
In a 5-4 opinion written by Justice Stephen Breyer, the Court knocked down a Louisiana “admitting privileges” abortion restriction that in Breyer’s words is “almost word-for-word identical” to the Texas law at issue in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt from 2016.
We are proud to be a part of this important victory.
WLP filed an amicus curiae brief in the case in support of the abortion providers. We explained our arguments this op-ed.
“Today’s ruling is a clear victory for the good people of Louisiana, reproductive freedom at large, and public health,” says Susan J. Frietsche, senior staff attorney and director of the Women’s Law Project’s Western Pennsylvania office. “It is also a resounding rebuke to the kind of right-wing judicial activism that led the Court to spend precious time re-reviewing a matter of settled law.”
“We celebrate today’s victory because reproductive freedom is the foundation of equality, and we know these ideologically-driven and medically unnecessary abortion restrictions target low-income people and cause serious harm and injury,” says WLP attorney Christine Castro.
“But we must also recognize that successfully challenging these harmful restrictions is the mere starting point. Access to abortion, and reproductive health services in general, is stratified by income and ZIP code in this country, and we are still fighting for equitable access for all.”
The Women’s Law Project is a public interest law center in Pennsylvania devoted to advancing and defending the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQ+ people in Pennsylvania and beyond.
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