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Today, the Supreme Court heard its biggest abortion case in a decade:Whole Womans Health v. Hellerstedt.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
HB2 limits access to abortion in the state by intensifying regulations on clinics.
The central question today’s case will answer is: Who gets the final say on abortion law?
Or will the Supreme Court set clear limits on what restrictions on abortion are constitutional?
So what is HB2?
Any clinics where abortions are performed must meet the building specifications of an “ambulatory care center.”
Why are people worried?
Supporters of HB2 say the increased regulations make abortion safer for women, butmedical professionals disagree.
If a clinic was located more than 30 minutes away from the nearest hospital,it was automatically closed.
And even those that fell within the distance restriction had trouble obtaining admitting privileges from neighboring hospitals.
At a more nuanced level,HB2 disproportionately affects low-income women.
The admitting privileges clause ignores the possibility that a woman traveled a significant distance to reach an abortion clinic.
Gas can be quite expensive, after all.
Each appointment racks up a new expense, which some women don’t have the financial means to afford.
Women with more money could afford safer procedures, whereas lower-income women had to embrace more dangerous methods.
What happens next?
The Supreme Court will make a run at answer two major questions to determine the constitutionality of HB2.
Either decision the court makes will have a lasting impact on legislation surrounding abortion and women’s health.
A final and very possible decision is a tied vote4 vs. 4.
Since Congress has not yet approved a ninth justice, only eight justices will be voting on this case.
The hearing was held today.
We have since learned this is not the case and updated this article accordingly.
Photo Credit: Getty / Drew Angerer
