The United States Supreme Court put a temporary hold on a Texas law Monday. Some observers said it would allow 10 abortion clinics to remain open, two days before they were set to shut down.
The Supreme Court will revisit the case after the summer recess.
House Bill 2 was signed by Governor Rick Perry in 2013. The bill requires all Texas abortion facilities to meet hospital-like standards. Currently 10 of the 19 active abortion clinics in the state of Texas do not meet the bill’s criteria. Abortion doctors are also required under HB2 to have privileges to admit patients within 25 miles of the procedure.
Planned Parenthood of Texas argued in court records that the bill is not about protecting women, but instead an attempt to shut down abortion clinics.
Conservative groups and Governor Greg Abbott said they were shocked to hear Monday’s ruling.
In a statement released Monday, Governor Abbott said the Texas abortion law is designed to “fight for higher-quality healthcare standards for women, while protecting our most vulnerable—the unborn.”
Abbott also said that he is “confident the Supreme Court will ultimately uphold this law.”
Despite the initial disappointment, John Seago with Texas Right to Life said he remains optimistic.
“There is a big potential for a success here from the pro-life movement standpoint,” Seago said. “We do think it is going to be upheld, we think it is common sense safety standards for this, and we think it’s going to be upheld and we are going to have another pro-life victory here in Texas.”
