Supreme Court Narrowly Delays Implementation of Louisiana Anti-Abortion Law

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Supreme Court Narrowly Delays Implementation of Louisiana Anti-Abortion Law

February 8, 2019, Washington, DC – The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) today cautioned that the Supreme Court stay of a Louisiana anti-abortion law is only the latest stage of the fight to save Roe v Wade in Louisiana and across the nation. NCJW CEO Nancy K. Kaufman released the following statement:

“The Supreme Court ruling in June Medical Services v. Gee that would delay implementation of a Louisiana law designed to make it more difficult than ever to obtain an abortion is only the latest salvo in the ongoing war to save women’s access to safe and legal abortion. If the Court ultimately evaluates the merits of the law and allows it to take effect, abortion will only be available in theory in many places. Measures imposing onerous requirements on doctors and patients or banning the procedure before most women even know they are pregnant would make abortion unavailable in fact, disproportionately harming low-income women, women of color, immigrant women, rural women, and young women in the process.

“The Court must follow its own precedent established in Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt in 2016 when it struck down a nearly identical Texas law.

“Chief Justice John Roberts, who says he is committed to respecting precedent, must vote against the Louisiana restrictions. If he does not, abortion as a practical matter will disappear as a constitutional guarantee. Roe v. Wade may not have been overturned, but it will have been eviscerated.”

The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms. More information on Facebook and on Twitter.