The US Supreme Court has blocked a Texas law that had meant all but seven of the state’s abortion clinics were closed because they failed to meet new standards. The block will remain in effect while the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals considers a legal challenge to the law itself. It will allow at least 12 clinics that were closed to reopen.
In a brief order posted after normal business hours, the Supreme Court granted requests by some of the affected abortion clinics to block parts of the law.
It blocked state-wide the requirement that abortion clinics meet standards of an ambulatory surgical centre, which a majority of the Texas abortion providers could not meet.
For clinics in McAllen and El Paso only, the order also blocked a provision requiring abortion clinic doctors to have admitting privileges at hospitals within 30 miles of the clinic.
