Washington, D.C. — Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in June Medical Services LLC v. Russo—previously named June Medical Services LLC v. Gee—to determine whether a Louisiana law requiring providers to have admitting privileges within 30 miles puts an undue burden on people seeking abortion care. Additionally, the court will determine whether the plaintiff, an abortion provider, even has the ability to challenge the law and defend patients’ right to an abortion. Jamille Fields Allsbrook, director of women’s health and rights at the Center for American Progress, released the following statement:
The makeup of the Supreme Court is the only thing that has changed since it answered these questions just four years ago. And the composition of the court certainly does not justify undermining people’s ability to meet their health care needs, including abortion. This case should be open and shut for the Supreme Court if it is following the precedent it has established and repeatedly upheld. Abortion rights are on the line but so is the integrity of the court and confidence in the rule of law.
The Supreme Court struck down an identical Texas law in 2016, and it has recognized repeatedly, for nearly 50 years, providers’ ability to challenge abortion restrictions on behalf of their patients. If the burdensome Louisiana law is deemed constitutional, the case could deal a significant blow to abortion rights, undermining abortion access around the country—particularly for people of color, people in rural areas, low-income people, people with disabilities, transgender and gender-nonconforming people, and young people who already have limited or no access to abortion.
Furthermore, if the Supreme Court ignores its own precedent related to standing, there could be ripple effects on abortion and other civil and human rights, given that third-party standing has been used to challenge unconstitutional laws in health care, education, housing, and criminal justice.
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For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Colin Seeberger at [email protected] or 202-741-6292.