Breaking News: A Good Day for Women and SCOTUS

Two cases of significance, particularly to women, were decided at the end of  SCOTUS’ 2016 term. 

The first is Whole Women’s Health where the court struck down (5-3) a Texas abortion law as too restrictive. The court ruled that restrictions Texas placed on doctors who perform abortions in Texas, were unreasonable.  Both restrictions, that abortion centers must meet outpatient surgical facility standards and that doctors performing abortions must have privileges in hospitals local to the abortion facility.   

The second is Voisine v. US where the Petitioner asked the court to declare unconstitutional the prohibition on gun possession that is required under federal law when an individual is convicted of a crime of domestic violence.  Mr. Voisine argued that because his act of assaulting his girlfriend could have been “reckless”, rather than intentional, the prohibition should not apply. The court ruled (6-2) against Mr. Voisine  .   The decision created some interesting judicial alliances.

Blogs analyzing today’s decisions will follow.