WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday let stand a decision barring emergency abortions that violate the law in Texas, which has one of the country’s strictest abortion bans.

Without detailing their reasoning, the justices kept in place a lower court order that said hospitals cannot be required to provide pregnancy terminations that would violate Texas law.

The Biden administration had asked the justices to throw out the lower court order, arguing that hospitals have to perform abortions in emergency situations under federal law. The administration pointed to the Supreme Court’s action in a similar case from Idaho earlier this year in which the justices narrowly allowed emergency abortions to resume while a lawsuit continues.

The administration also cited a Texas Supreme Court ruling that said doctors do not have to wait until a woman’s life is in immediate danger to provide an abortion legally. The administration said it brings Texas in line with federal law and means the lower court ruling is not necessary.

  • snekerpimp@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    So, now they can just make arbitrary decisions without explaining themselves? So much for our democracy.

    • catloaf@lemm.ee
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      2 months ago

      They always could. And they’re not elected, so it’s nothing to do with democracy.

      But they only issue opinions, they’ve never tried to enforce anything. Andrew Jackson famously ignored their decision in 1832, and nothing happened.

      It’s really just another aspect of our society being built on trust and respect. And that trust and respect has been exploited and eroded in the past few decades.

      Remember, government only exists by the consent of the governed.

      • Billiam@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Andrew Jackson famously ignored their decision in 1832, and nothing happened.

        Even genocidal asshole racist clocks are right twice a day, or something.