Mississippi Center for Justice – Co-Counsel for Mississippi’s Only Abortion Provider – Issues Statements on Supreme Court Ruling on “Bounty Hunter” Texas Abortion Law 

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued decisions in two cases challenging Texas’ ban on abortion after six weeks of pregnancy (S.B. 8), ending two of the most promising pathways to blocking the ban. In a 5-4 majority, the Court ruled that the most significant part of a case filed by a coalition of abortion providers and others impacted by the ban, led by Whole Woman’s Health, must be dismissed, ruling that the health care providers could not bring suit against the classes of state judges and clerks or the state Attorney General. The Court also ruled that a narrow portion of the case may proceed against the Texas Medical Board and other licensing authorities, but this would not prevent bounty-hunter lawsuits from being filed. 

Statement of Vangela M. Wade, President and CEO of Mississippi Center for Justice:

“The U.S. Supreme Court is continuing to allow states to attack the basic rights of women to make their own decisions in matters of family and childbirth.  MCJ stands with Mississippi’s abortion clinic and its allies in fighting repressive laws that infringe on these rights.”

Statement of Rob McDuff, attorney with MCJ and co-counsel for Mississippi’s only abortion clinic, the Jackson Women’s Health Organization:

“In this closely divided decision, the Supreme Court has failed to stop, for now, the threat to women’s rights in Texas and the chaos in that state’s federal and state courts created by this unprecedented law.  Hopefully the Mississippi legislature will decide against adopting such a law and replicating that chaos here. If such a law passes here, we will challenge it on all fronts in all courts.” [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]