Abortion Rights Reinforced as Supreme Court Voids Louisiana Law
- Roberts says he’s bound by 2016 precedent, joins 5-4 majority
- Abortion opponents hoped to clear way for more restrictions
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A divided U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law that opponents said would have left the state with only one abortion clinic, in a surprise reinforcement for women’s reproductive rights.
Chief Justice John Roberts provided the crucial vote, joining the court’s liberal justices Monday in a 5-4 majority to invalidate a law requiring clinic doctors to get privileges at a local hospital. Roberts said he was bound by a 2016 Supreme Court ruling that struck down a similar Texas law, even though he was in dissent in that case and still disagrees with the ruling.