Civil Rights
Block on Trump's Asylum Ban Upheld by Supreme Court
In a somewhat surprising decision, the Supreme Court postponed enforcement of a Louisiana law requiring abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. The law would effectively close all but one of the state's abortion clinics, and is similar to one from Texas that the Court struck down in 2016, finding such restrictions an "undue burden" on woman's access to abortion, in violation of the Constitution.
But the case isn't over yet. The law is only being put on hold until the justices can hear further arguments from both sides.
Long and Winding (Legal) Road
Louisiana's law has been subject to judicial review before, and the Supreme Court actually previously blocked it back in 2016:
Now, the Supreme Court is again putting the law on hold. Next, abortion providers are expected to file their petition for review, which is due in mid-April. Oral arguments in the case would likely be held later this year or early next, with a decision possible by the end of June 2020.
Divided Justices
Of course, the composition of the Court has changed significantly over the past few years, and many expected the current Justices to be less amenable to abortion rights. So it was somewhat surprising that Chief Justice John Roberts joined the Court's four liberal Justices in voting for the stay, especially since he voted against striking down Texas's law in 2016. Less surprising was new Justice Brett Kavanaugh's dissent. While conceding the precedent of the Court's decision in Whole Woman's Health, Kavanaugh said he would've let the Louisiana law go into effect, effectively allowing states to begin enforcing abortion restrictions the Court had already deemed unconstitutional.
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