Feinstein: Court Must Respect Precedent, Reject Attempts to Restrict Abortion Access

Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to hear a case involving Louisiana’s severely restrictive abortion law:

            “The Supreme Court announced it will hear a case involving a Louisiana law restricting women’s reproductive health care, particularly access to abortion services. This is shocking as the Supreme Court just three years ago struck down an identical Texas law in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt. 

                “Every nominee to the Supreme Court talks about the importance of stare decisis, also known as respecting precedent. Yet the court has ruled on an identical case just three years ago – nothing has changed except two new justices.

                “The Supreme Court shouldn’t reverse its earlier decision. It must strike down Louisiana’s law, just as it did with the identical Texas law. Any other action will be a stark break in how the court follows precedent and cast major doubt on how this court views a woman’s right to choose.”

###