Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic Statement on Supreme Court Ruling on Louisiana Abortion Law
Contact: Molly Rivera, [email protected] or (919) 438-1109
For Immediate Release: June 29, 2020 (Updated: June 29, 2020, 7:39 p.m.)
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court overturned a Louisiana law today that imposed medically unnecessary regulations on doctors and facilities that provide abortions. Today’s ruling in June Medical Services v. Russo held the precedent set by the Court four years ago in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt.
Statement from Jenny Black, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic:
“Today the Supreme Court reaffirmed what we’ve long known — medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion are unconstitutional. This is a clear victory for reproductive rights and sends a resounding message to politicians to stop pushing extreme political agendas intended to put abortion out of reach.
“As we celebrate today’s decision, we know there is more work ahead to ensure that the rights affirmed today are a reality for people across the country. Just four years ago, the Court said loud and clear that lawmakers cannot impose medically unnecessary burdens on patients seeking abortion care. And yet, the onslaught of attacks on reproductive health care has relentlessly persisted. Far too many people live in a world where access to abortion is practically unattainable. The barriers to abortion access for people of color, people who live in rural areas, and people living in poverty remain unacceptably high.
“The bottom line is that the fight for reproductive freedom for all is far from over. There are still too many politicians who will stop at nothing to ban abortion, and we must remain vigilant in electing candidates who will protect reproductive health care up and down the ballot this November.
“We will fight alongside our reproductive justice allies until access to basic health care - including essential health care like abortion - is available to everyone.”
Background
On Monday, June 29, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling, struck down Lousiana’s medically unnecessary abortion restriction in June Medical Services v. Russo, a case brought by the Center for Reproductive Rights on behalf of several independent abortion providers. The Court held the precedent set in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt (2016). In that case, the Court struck down an identical Texas law, ruling that admitting privileges laws are unconstitutional because they do not provide any health or safety benefits to patients.
No state restrictions outside of Louisiana are directly implicated by today’s decision. However, state legislatures continue to try to pass abortion restrictions across North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Virginia.