SCOTUS Hears Louisiana Case

The Supreme Court of the United States hears an abortion case from Louisiana tomorrow.

The Attorney General Jeff Landry’s Office will appear before the United States Supreme Court in “June Medical Group vs. Russo,” and Solicitor General Liz Murrill will present oral argument in defense of Act 620, a bipartisan 2014 law that requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.

In 2019, The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to temporarily block the implementation of the law. Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the Court’s four liberal justices in voting for the stay, and Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh opposed it.

Justice Kavanaugh wrote the dissent:

“Louisiana’s new law requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. The question presented to us at this time is whether the law imposes an undue burden under our decision in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, 579 U. S. ___ (2016),” he wrote, on February 7, 2019. “All parties, including the State of Louisiana, agree that Whole Woman’s Health is the governing precedent for purposes of this stay application. I therefore will analyze the stay application under that precedent.”

The case heard tomorrow shares similarities with a Texas case, “Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt,” which the Supreme Court previously struck down. Critics claim the only difference is Justice Kavanaugh’s appointment.

That said, General Landry says that Louisiana’s case is different.

“Louisiana abortion providers have a record of non-compliance with basic safety regulations, and now they want a special exemption from generally-accepted medical standards that apply to similar surgical procedures in our State,” said General Landry. “Women seeking abortions deserve better than that; they should have the same assurance of prompt and proper care in the event of complications.”