Victory for Abortion Access: Supreme Court Declines to Review Case Blocking Alabama Abortion Restriction 

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court today declined to review a lower court ruling that blocked a harmful Alabama abortion restriction. Today’s decision effectively protects Alabamians from this dangerous law and keeps it from taking effect. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit affirmed an injunction blocking the law, which bans the most common method of second trimester abortion. The appeals court agreed that it imposed an “undue burden” on people seeking an abortion in the state. The law was challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf of West Alabama Women’s Center and Alabama Women’s Center. 

The restriction was passed in 2016 as part of a national strategy to push abortion care out of reach. This ban would unnecessarily impose political interference on doctors’ ability to use their best medical judgment to provide the care that is best for their patients. 

Statement of Dr. Leana Wen, President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

We applaud our partners at the ACLU, West Alabama Women’s Center and Alabama Women’s Center for their courageous fight against political interference in abortion care. A patient’s health, not politics, should guide important medical decisions at every point in pregnancy. Restrictions like these have nothing to do with medicine, and everything to do with politicians trying to interfere in a patient’s decision and their doctor’s recommendation. This would prevent doctors from providing patients with the best possible care, and could be dangerous. This is an important victory for abortion access, and Planned Parenthood will continue to fight these and all attacks on abortion access across the country.

Statement from Staci Fox, President and Chief Executive Officer, Planned Parenthood Southeast

This is a major victory for Alabamians and people everywhere. The courts have for now protected our constitutional right to access abortion. But the fight is far from over. We are laser focused on Alabama's latest attack on reproductive health and rights — HB 314, the outright abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest. Today we celebrate, and tomorrow we continue our work to make sure that abortion remains safe, legal, and available in Alabama and across the U.S.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.