The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal of a decision striking down Wisconsin’s requirement that abortion doctors have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.
The decision comes just a day after the nation’s high court struck down a similar law out of Texas, which justices found placed an undue burden on women seeking an abortion. Both Wisconsin and Mississippi were seeking a review of lower court decisions, which overturned their requirements.
Wisconsin’s law was passed by Republicans in 2013. A federal judge almost immediately put the requirement on hold though, after Planned Parenthood challenged it in court. It was later found unconstitutional, in a decision affirmed by an appeals court last fall.
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin executive director Tanya Atkinson said the group was thrilled by the decision to permanently block the requirement. “Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin and the medical community in our state have said all along that this measure did nothing to enhance patient safety. Rather, it was an attempt to put obstacles in the way of women seeking safe, legal abortion care. We are pleased the Supreme Court recognized the true intention behind this law.
In a statement, Attorney General Brad Schimel said the decision was “not surprising,” following Monday’s ruling in the Texas case.
Governor Scott Walker’s admiration said in a statement that he is “disappointed that common-sense standards on abortion providers were overturned by an activist court,” while noting that the core of Wisconsin’s law remains in place.
The admitting privileges requirement was part of a larger law, which also requires doctors to perform ultrasounds on women seeking an abortion. That provision remains intact and was not part of the challenge brought by Planned Parenthood.