ACLU Statement on Supreme Court Ruling in June Medical Services v. Russo

WASHINGTON — In a five to four decision today, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law that required abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a local hospital in its ruling in June Medical Services v. Russo. As Chief Justice Roberts noted in providing the critical fifth vote, the result in the case was dictated by the Court’s precedent; the Louisiana law was identical to a Texas law that the Court ruled was unconstitutional just four years ago in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt.

Jennifer Dalven, director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, had the following reaction:

“This is a critical victory for Louisianans, but make no mistake about it — the right to get an abortion is far from secure. Just four years ago, the Court held that there was no medical justification for this law, and yet today we were just one vote away from it taking effect and eviscerating access to abortion. That this law was only struck down by a 5-4 vote shows just how precarious access to abortion is in our country, where politicians continue to pass laws designed to shut down clinics and push abortion out of reach. That’s why Congress must pass the Women’s Health Protection Act to help ensure that a person who needs abortion care is able to get it, no matter where they live or how much money they have.”