Here is a link to a LifeNews.com story on the Supreme Court’s action in June Medical Services, LLC v. Gee. Louisiana’s law requires abortionists to obtain admitting privileges at local hospitals. The US Supreme Court struck down a similar Texas law in 2016 in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt. In September 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit distinguished Whole Woman’s Health and rejected a constitutional challenge to the Louisiana law.
Late last night (February 7, 2019), the US Supreme Court granted a stay of the Fifth Circuit ruling. That action prevents the law from going into effect while the US Supreme Court decides whether to hear the case. The Court’s decision was 5-4, with Chief Justice Roberts joining four Justices (Justices Breyer, Ginsburg, Kagan, and Sotomayor) who were in the majority in Whole Woman’s Health. Chief Justice Roberts was in dissent in Whole Woman’s health. The dissenters from yesterday’s decision were Justices Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Thomas.
The Court is likely to give full consideration to the case, but that likely won’t happen until the Supreme Court’s 2019-2020 Term. A decision will not likely come before June of 2020.
The case has been closely watched since most observers believe that there are five Justices (Chief Justice Roberts, and Justices Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Thomas) who are more likely to uphold laws restricting abortions. The Court’s decision may have been an effort to postpone full consideration of abortion cases.