Supreme Abortion Betrayal: Women’s Health Protections Denied
Austin, Texas – Today the Unites States Supreme Court ruled on June Medical Services LLC vs. Russo. Chief Justice John Roberts, once considered a conservative, joined with liberal Judges Breyer, Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan to render a 5-4 decision striking the law down in the first major abortion case since Trump’s appointed Justices Kavanaugh and Gorsuch joined the Court. Chief Justice Roberts previously appeared to support similar common-sense health standards for abortion clinics in the Texas case Whole Women’s Health, but switched positions on this case. Texas Values signed onto a legal amicus brief supporting the Louisiana law, which ensures that abortion doctors have admitting privileges to hospitals within 30 miles, similar to other medical facilities.
Texas Values President and Attorney Jonathan Saenz said: “By rejecting common-sense health and safety procedures in favor of barbaric conditions and medical practices, the Supreme Court shows it does not care for about the health or safety of the mother during an abortion. The evidence provided in this case proves one thing, the abortion industry is about killing babies without regard to the health and safety of the mother. This decision leaves no doubt, the Supreme Court considers itself the Supreme Legislature, and it’s time all of us stand up and say enough!”
Many of the common-sense health and safety measures requested by states are a response to the horrors seen by Dr. Kermit Gosnell, who is now behind bars. June Medical Services LLC v. Russo is a Pro-Life case that seeks to decide if Louisiana can keep their law requiring all abortion facilities to have admitting privileges at local hospitals. In 2014, the Louisiana legislature passed Act 620 which was authored by Democrat lawmaker Katrina Jackson. The law is similar to a law in Texas which was overturned in Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt. Not only do laws like Act 620 save lives by helping to slow down the number of abortions, but these laws take into consideration the grave dangers of abortion procedures. Oralists arguing in favor of Act 620 gave horrific examples of some of the health emergencies that have occurred while women were receiving an abortion.
In June Medical, the Fifth Circuit distinguished the Louisiana law from the Texas law in Whole Women’s Health and proceeded to uphold the Louisiana law after concluding it did not create an undue burden on abortion facilities. The Fifth Circuit found that unlike in Texas, many of the abortionists in Louisiana could receive admitting privileges, yet “sat on their hands” rather than diligently attempting to obtain them.
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