On Wednesday, the US Supreme Court appeared to be sharply divided during arguments over a Texas law placing tough new restrictions on abortion providers that could affect the lives of millions of women living in the US.
Four of the Supreme Court justices were adamant that the regulations imposed by a Texas law on the state's abortion providers served no medical purpose, as reported by New York Times. However, two of the more conservative justices said there was little evidence that abortion facilities in Texas had closed or would close because of the regulation.
Pivotal Justice Anthony Kennedy gave little indication as to how he would rule on a challenge to a law imposed in Texas that has strict regulations on abortion clinics and physicians. He said it would help to know how many abortions could be performed in clinics if the law is allowed to be fully implemented. Justice Kennedy, who often casts the deciding vote in close cases, suggested sending the case back to the lower court for further evidence to be introduced on the law's impact. Such scenario could mean that the issue might not be resolved for years.
RT News reported that if the case remains deadlocked in a 4-4 vote, the Texas law would remain on the books, but the case would not establish a national precedent.
The Texas law mandates abortion clinics to upgrade their standards to meet those of an ambulatory surgical center. The law also requires any physician performing abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic they work in. According to Telesur TV, abortion providers challenged provisions in the law which require clinics to spend costly upgrades from parking spaces, room size, and corridor widths.
Center for Reproductive Rights head counsel Stephanie Totie said at a news conference outside the court that the Texas law has nothing to do with safety laws and are simply about stopping women from accessing their 'constitutionally protected right to abortion'
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