Arkansas faces more fights over abortion limits after court ruling

LITTLE ROCK — The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to let Arkansas enforce a law that critics say effectively bans abortion pills in the state is a setback for abortion rights supporters who have been fighting a wave of restrictions in the predominantly Republican state. The court fight over that restriction and others is far from over.

The nation's high court last week rejected an appeal from Planned Parenthood, which wanted justices to reverse an appeals court ruling and reinstate a lower court order that blocked the law from taking effect. The law says doctors who provide the abortion pills must hold a contract with another physician who has admitting privileges at a hospital and who would agree to handle complications—and Planned Parenthood says it has been unable to find any able to do so.

The legal fight doesn't end, but the ruling means Arkansas can enforce the law for the time being. Planned Parenthood said it has started telling patients they couldn't access medication abortions because of the ruling and has asked for a new temporary restraining order from the lower court. A federal judge plans to hold a hearing on that request Friday morning.

The courts have essentially been a revolving door for legal fights over abortion limits in Arkansas since Republicans took control of the state Legislature six years ago. Here's where other cases stand:

Read more: http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/arkansas/story/2018/jun/04/arkansas-faces-more-fights-over-abortion-limits-after-court-ruling/729141/