In Abortion Ruling, Supreme Court Reverses Texas Law That Would Close Clinics

05:22

June 27, 2016

Abortion rights activists Morgan Hopkins of Boston, left, and Alison Turkos of New York City, celebrate on the steps of the United States Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that women's groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to close. (Pete Marovich/Getty Images)

The Supreme Court ruled Monday on the three final cases of its term, including its first major abortion case in nine years. In a 5-3 decision, the court reversed parts of a Texas abortion ruling that would require all clinics to meet the standard for ambulatory surgical centers and also that doctors performing abortions have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.

The reversal will allow about several clinics to remain open in the state. The court also ruled unanimously to vacate a corruption conviction of former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and, in the third case, the court ruled 6-2 to affirm a lower court's prohibiting two men convicted of domestic abuse from owning a firearm.

Here & Now's Robin Young speaks with Dahlia Lithwick of Slate for more.

Guest

Dahlia Lithwick, reporter for Slate. She tweets @Dahlialithwick.

This segment aired on June 27, 2016.