The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that abortion restrictions in Texas will remain in place.
The justices voted 5-4 to maintain a piece of legislation that orders doctors who offer abortion services in clinics to have admitting rights at hospitals nearby, the Associated Press reported.
Opponents of the bill said that the restrictions have forced at least one third of Texas' medical facilities to cease administering pregnancy termination services. Following an initial federal appeals court ruling that kept the regulation in place, Planned Parenthood, along with a handful of Texas abortion clinics, took the case to the high court. But the presiding conservative majority turned down the plea, while the four liberal justices chose to dissent, according to AP.
The ruling is not yet final, and will go to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans sometime in January. Justice Stephen Breyer told AP that he anticipated the ruling will go back to the Supreme Court after the appeals court gives its word.
Republican Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who has been one of the main legislators backing the restrictions, applauded the Supreme Court's decision.
"This is good news both for the unborn and for the women of Texas, who are now better protected from shoddy abortion providers operating in dangerous conditions. As always, Texas will continue doing everything we can to protect the culture of life in our state," he said.
A judge first barred the provision from taking effect in October, saying he regarded it as unconstitutional because it presented a "substantial obstacle" ahead of a woman seeking a pregnancy termination.
Spokesperson for Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas Sarah Wheat voiced similar trepidation concerning the restrictions, adding that women of lower socio-economic status would have issues with less doctors available to offer services.
"We definitely think this is an unconstitutional law," Wheat told USA Today in an interview earlier this month. "It has such a direct impact on whether women can access abortion services."
But until the Court of Appeals weighs in next year,Texas clinics must follow orders to gain admitting rights. According to a CBS News report, doctors practicing in 12 of the 32 clinics in Texas that offer abortion services don't have admitting privileges at hospitals, and therefore won't be able to administer pregnancy terminations.
