SCOTUS Will Review Louisiana Abortion Admitting Privileges Law

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the validity of a Louisiana law that requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at local hospitals.

The law is nearly identical to a Texas provision the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated in 2016, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld it anyway. After reviewing the evidence, the Fifth Circuit said there were “stark” factual differences, including geography, that meant the Louisiana law’s impact on women exercising their right to abortion wouldn’t be as great as that of the Texas provision.

Lower federal courts may not ...