U.S. high court temporarily blocks Louisiana abortion restrictions

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday temporarily prevented a Louisiana law imposing strict regulations on abortion clinics from taking effect in a case that presents a key test on the contentious issue following last year’s retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, a pivotal supporter of abortion rights.

A one-page order issued by Justice Samuel Alito said that “the justices need time to review” the various court filings before making a decision on the emergency application filed by Shreveport-based abortion provider Hope Medical Group for Women to block the law.

Alito said that the restrictions, which were to go into effect on Monday, will be put on hold until at least Feb. 7.

Hope Medical Group challenged the law’s requirement that doctors who perform abortions must have a difficult-to-obtain formal relationship called “admitting privileges” at a hospital within 30 miles (48 km) of where the procedure would be performed.

-snip-

SUPREME COURT FEBRUARY 1, 2019 / 6:35 PM / UPDATED 31 MINUTES AGO
Lawrence Hurley
4 MIN READ


Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-abortion/u-s-high-court-temporarily-blocks-louisiana-abortion-restrictions-idUSKCN1PQ5ZM

[srobertss]

1. They could have chosen to not rule on it?

Which would have been very bad. Very bad would come if they rule in support of this law, overturning the precedent they recently set. Which means Roe vs Wade will really unravel on a state by state basis, if I’m understanding this correctly. Am I?

[Polybius]

2. Looks like they waited until the last second to hold it

Strange that it was Alito who issued the statement, since he's arguably the most anti-abortion Justice besides Thomas.

[srobertss]

3. I wonder if that's a bad sign.

[Princess Turandot]

4. It's likely that Alito released the order because he is the circuit justice for the 5th Circuit...

which includes the United States Courts of Appeals in Louisiana. Normally, petitions to SCOTUS for injunctions etc go first to the justice for that circuit. When the issue is a high profile one, more often than not the circuit justice will in turn refer it to the full court for consideration.

Roberts could have issued it as well.

[Apollyonus]

5. Looks like it is a hot potato that Roberts doesn't want

his fingerprints on. It will ultimately be tied to his legacy.

So I am sure Roberts will vote with the liberals on this one.