FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 27, 2016
CONTACT: ACLU of Florida Media Office, media@aclufl.org, (786) 363-2737
MIAMI, FL - The Supreme Court issued a decisive ruling today in what has been described as the most important abortion case in decades. The 5-3 ruling strikes down two abortion restrictions: the mandate that abortion providers have admitting privileges at local hospitals and the requirement that abortion clinics be outfitted as mini-hospitals.
Howard Simon, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida had this response:
“One thing that should be an immediate consequence of this important ruling is that Florida legislators – and those from other states around the country – cease pretending and deceiving the public that shutting down abortion clinics because they don’t meet unnecessary spatial and electrical standards or that the doctors don’t meet unnecessary requirements like having privileges at near-by hospitals somehow benefits women’s health.”
“Today, the nation’s highest court ruled that exactly the opposite is true – these proposals do nothing more than prevent women from receiving health care and put women’s health at risk.”
Jennifer Dalven, director of the Reproductive Freedom Project at the American Civil Liberties Union had this response:
"Today, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that the Constitution protects not just the theoretical right to abortion, but the right of a woman to actually get one without unwarranted interference from politicians. The decision should send a loud signal to politicians that they can no longer hide behind sham rationales to shut down clinics and prevent a woman who has decided to end a pregnancy from getting the care she needs."
This decision sets a national precedent and its effects are likely to be felt around the country. Challenges to admitting privileges requirements similar to the Texas law are currently pending in federal courts in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
The full decision can be accessed here.