The sneakers Wendy Davis wore while filibustering the abortion bill
The U.S. Supreme Court has blocked key provisions of a 2013 law to restrict abortions in Texas adding regulations that forced clinics to close.
Earlier this month, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Texas could immediately force abortion clinics to upgrade to hospital-level facilities. The Supreme Court put that provision on hold.
Another provision requiring doctors to have admitting privileges at a local hospital was put on hold for clinics in McAllen and El Paso.
The Fifth Circuit is considering the overall constitutionality of the law that propelled Sen. Wendy Davis to national fame because of her filibuster against it.
“The court recognized that these deeply personal decisions should be made by a woman with the guidance of her family and her doctor,” Davis said in an email sent to Dallas Voice. “The actions by Austin politicians like Greg Abbott had closed all but eight Texas reproductive health centers and harmed the health and safety of hundreds of thousands of women throughout the state.
“While politicians like Greg Abbott support making abortion illegal even in cases of rape and incest, I’m thankful that women can continue to make their own personal decisions.”
Although the decision was unsigned, Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia said they would have ruled against the clinics.
“We’re seeing the terrible impact these restrictions have on thousands of Texas women who effectively no longer have access to safe and legal abortion,” said Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards, in a statement. “We’re relieved that the court stepped in to stop this, and we hope this dangerous law is ultimately overturned completely.”
Until the Supreme Court weighed in, the only clinics still open were in Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and Houston. Several others are expected to reopen bringing the total up from eight to 13 clinics.