The future of abortion access in Louisiana is in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court. As the new term begins this week, the justices are going to decide whether to take up the case of Louisiana's law (ACT 620), requiring doctors to have medically unnecessary, often impossible-to-obtain admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. If this law goes into effect, it would leave only one doctor to provide abortions for nearly one million women, and would disproportionately harm low-income people and people of color. 

This type of law is opposed by major medical groups like the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. And what's more, it is identical to the Texas law that the Supreme Court deemed unconstitutional in 2016 (Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt).

We've been fighting this battle for FIVE years! Check out this timeline of how we got to this point. 

What Could Happen Next?

If the Supreme Court decides not to hear the case, this law will take effect and Louisiana would be left with only one doctor that is able to provide abortions in the state.

If they do decide to take the case, then they will hear oral arguments in the Spring of 2020 and make a ruling before the end of June 2020.

We cannot allow states and activist judges to compromise our judicial system by ignoring Supreme Court precedent, defy the Constitution and undermine the rule of law. 

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Admitting Privileges Are Back at the U.S. Supreme Court with Serious Implications for Abortion Access

by Elizabeth Nash and Megan K. Donovan at Guttmacher.org