Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on Abortion Case

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Contact: Aileen Day [email protected] 614-313-2057

Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on Abortion Case

Columbus, Ohio – Today, the Supreme Court of the United States started to hear oral arguments in the June Medical Services v. Russo abortion case. This case is a challenge to a Louisiana law which requires physicians to have “active admitting privileges” at a hospital within 30 miles of their facility.

This case is identical to a Texas law that the Supreme Court struck down in 2016 in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt. The Court that heard the case found that it was a medically- unnecessary law that only served to limit access to abortion.

The current Supreme Court is now skewed in favor of anti-abortion views, which is the position the Trump administration and anti-abortion state politicians have been waiting for. We have a lot to lose in Ohio if the Supreme Court decides to side with the state of Louisiana.

Abortion access in Ohio is being continuously chipped away, and the threat to overturn Roe v. Wade is one we cannot ignore. Either way, the Court’s ruling could have momentous implications for people’s ability to access abortion. Further, the ruling could eliminate the right of abortion providers to bring legal challenges to the state and to challenge federal laws and policies.

Statement from Lauren Blauvelt-Copelin, Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Advocacy of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio:

“In Ohio, we have seen these medically unnecessary TRAP laws shut down abortion-providing clinics. Thousands of supporters are protesting all over the country in response to the U.S. Supreme Court hearing arguments on the June v. Russo case. Together we will fight to keep moving the country forward to secure reproductive freedom for all our futures.”

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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio supports advocacy for reproductive health and reproductive rights, including grassroots organizing, community education, and lobbying. www.ppao.org