Roe row: abortion rights in Amer

Today the Supreme Court, with its strengthened conservative majority, tackles a case that could sharply restrict Americans’ access to abortion.

June Medical Services v Russo involves a Louisiana law from 2014 requiring abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a local hospital.

What supporters call a sensible precaution, opponents deem a medically unnecessary scheme to shut down clinics.

In 2017 a federal court—citing a Supreme Court decision in 2016 that struck down an identical rule in Texas—nullified the law as an “undue burden” that would “cripple” access to abortion.

• nullify 使无效；废标；作废的
• undue burden 不当负担；过分负担；不适当的负担

Only one abortion provider would remain for the entire state, the judge concluded.

But Louisiana won on appeal—and at least four Supreme Court justices seem likely to side with the state.

• side with 支持；站在…一边

If John Roberts, the chief, joins them, red states across America would have freer rein to pass new laws undermining Roe v Wade, the ruling that recognized the right to abortion in 1973.

• Roe v Wade 罗诉韦德案（美国最高法院判决堕胎不违宪的案件）(a legal case in the US Supreme Court that decided that abortion is allowed by the Constitution)

Mar 4th 2020