Texas, Wisconsin decisions key in Louisiana abortion clinic case

A federal trial judge in Baton Rouge is preparing to weigh in on an anti-abortion battle that appears to be headed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

A 5-½ day trial, which ended Monday, looked at the constitutionality of a 2014 Louisiana law that opponents claim serves as a barrier to a women’s legal right to the procedure that would end her pregnancy. The law requires abortion clinic physicians to have admitting privileges to a nearby hospital.

Similar laws in Texas and Wisconsin — one upheld, the other not — are on hold because of U.S. Supreme Court actions. The court on Monday stopped Texas from enforcing the law as scheduled Wednesday, pending an appeal of its legality to the high court.

In Louisiana, the decision rests with U.S. District Court Judge John deGravelles, of the Middle District of Louisiana, who said he would rule by Sept. 30 and called the case before him “a very important and very difficult issue.”

Read more: http://theadvocate.com/news/12784924-123/texas-wisconsin-decisions-key-in