Supreme Court Strikes Down Louisiana Abortion Law

The charts above are from the Gallup Poll. The poll was done between May 1st and 13th of a national sample of 1,028 adults with a 4 point margin of error.

The poll shows that a significant majority of the American public supports legal abortion (about 79%). About 50% supports abortion under certain circumstances (as the current law does) and 29% supports abortion under any circumstances. Only 20% would deny abortions under any circumstances.

I don't know if the public's wishes had anything to do with the Supreme Courts most recent decision on abortion, but the decision went along with the public's wishes.

The Supreme Court struck down the Louisiana law that would require doctors who perform abortions to have privileges at a hospital within 30 miles. It was identical to a Texas law that the Supreme Court had struck down about four years ago.

I think the conservatives thought they could get the court to change its mind now that there is a conservative majority on the court. It didn't work that way though. Chief Justice Roberts sided with the four liberals on the court to strike down the Louisiana law on a 5 to 4 vote. Roberts said the Texas law had established a precedent, and he voted to uphold that precedent.

This is a victory for women's rights, but just a small one. It does not mean Roberts might not vote with the conservatives next time -- especially if there is no established precedent.