Supreme Court To Hear Challenge To Louisiana Abortion Law That Could Leave The State With One Clinic

The Supreme Court announced Friday it will review an abortion law in Louisiana that could leave the state with one abortion clinic if it takes effect.

The Louisiana law would require doctors to have admitting privileges to hospitals within 30 miles of an abortion clinic.

The announcement adds to a docket of cases the Supreme Court will be hearing in the lead up to the 2020 presidential election.

The Louisiana law was passed in 2016 but has faced opposition from groups like the Center for Reproductive Rights, which argues it would leave the state with one doctor to handle all abortion cases and force a majority of the state’s clinics to close. Supporters of the law argue it would guarantee highly competent doctors were performing the abortions.

The law was originally meant to take effect in January but implementation was delayed to allow for judicial review. The measure is nearly identical to a Texas law struck down in 2016 by the Supreme Court, but that was before Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch were appointed to the court.

Both judges were top picks by President Trump, who promised in his 2016 campaign to appoint judges who would overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. The general fear is that if the Louisiana law is upheld, it would be the first step by the Supreme Court in chipping away at abortion rights.