February 21, 2020

Supreme Court to Begin Hearings on Louisiana's "Unsafe Abortion Act" Next Month

Credit: Glenn Beltz / Flickr
On March 4, the United States Supreme Court will begin hearings in June Medical Services v. Phillips, a case deciding the constitutionality of a Louisiana law requiring abortionists to have admitting privileges to a nearby hospital.

"The Unsafe Abortion Act" requires abortionists to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the facility. The requirement is designed to keep women safe in cases when women are injured during abortion procedures. This would also have the side-effect of ensuring only qualified physicians perform abortions since hospitals review a doctor's experience before granting admitting privileges.

The state of Louisiana originally lost its case in District Court before winning in the Fifth Court of Appeals. It will be the first abortion-related case to be heard by Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.