Texas abortion providers have asked a federal appellate court to stay its ruling upholding the state’s law regulating abortions while they appeal it to the Supreme Court.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a 2013 Texas law that requires abortion clinics to meet similar standards as ambulatory surgical centers, and abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a local hospital.
The June 9 ruling means numerous abortion clinics will have to meet the new standards or close. This could result in only about eight providers left in the state, pro-choice advocates warn.
The law takes effect in July 1.
Attorneys with the Center for Reproductive Rights filed their request Wednesday with the same New Orleans federal appeals court that upheld the law. Their clients are Whole Women’s Health, Austin Women’s Health Center, Killeen Women’s Health Center, Nova Health Systems and three doctors.
The court’s ruling, they said, means some facilities that have “provided safe abortion services for decades” will have to close or remain closed.
“Plaintiffs respectfully ask the Court to stay its mandate to preserve abortion access for all Texas women” while they petition the Supreme Court to hear their case, the attorneys wrote.
• Cheryl Wetzstein can be reached at cwetzstein@washingtontimes.com.
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