The Supreme Court of the United States is set to issue its ruling on a major abortion case on Monday, June 27, 2016. The last time the U.S. Supreme court ruled on abortion was almost nine years ago, which effectively banned abortions done during a late-term pregnancy.
Abortion rulings usually cause a great divide in America as proponents actively pursue its legality in accordance with the constitutional rights of women. However, those against abortion also fight to ensure that law exercises strict boundaries against the practice. Here's what you need to know about the landmark ruling that will be delivered Monday:
US Supreme Court Abortion Ruling: Who Are Behind This Case?
The petitioner or plaintiff is Whole Woman's Health, which has abortion clinics in Texas, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico and Minnesota. It filed a motion against the 2013 Texas law on abortion that has resulted in the closing of many abortion clinics because of its stringent provisions, per Jezebel.
Also serving as petitioner is The Center for Reproductive Rights for various Texas abortion clinics. The defendant is the state of Texas through Solicitor General Scott A. Keller. The state is backed by various pro-life organizations including the Catholic faith.
US Supreme Court Set for Key Abortion Ruling https://t.co/AayTGIq32Z pic.twitter.com/BJvj6Nqcca
— Voice of America (@VOANews) June 26, 2016
US Supreme Court Abortion Ruling: What Is The Petition About?
The petition calls on the U.S. Supreme court to decide on the Texas legislature that imposed the following abortion restrictions:
- Doctors who do abortion must have "formal admitting privileges" in the hospitals.
- Abortions, regardless of the term, must be done at full-featured surgical centers only. At the moment, there are only 8 clinics of this type in a big state like Texas, per Fund Texas Choice. Other abortion clinics that do not meet this requirement are required to have costly upgrades, which many didn't do so the sites closed.
- Abortions that are induced through medicine, which has been a common practice, should not be done via telemedicine, such as video or phone.
- Abortions at 20 weeks and beyond are banned.
The petitioners argue that the law has put heavy restrictions on women and has also created the stigma against those who undergo abortion. It's also discriminatory and an added burden to women who do not have cheaper, faster alternatives to terminate a pregnancy.
The state of Texas argues that making abortion harder for women was not the intention of the legislation. It said that the laws were created to uphold women's health, per NBC News.
Reuters reports that there has been a noticeable drop in abortion rates in the U.S. since 2011. However, experts point out that this is primarily "due to declines in unintended pregnancies" and contraception use, and not because of the abortion laws. In a poll conducted by Reuters, 42 percent of the American public are against abortion and 47 percent for abortion.
