Supreme Court Lets Texas Abortion Law Stay For Now

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A tough new abortion law will stay in effect in Texas for now after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to intervene.

A third of Texas abortion clinics have been closed because of the law that requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.

In Tuesday's decision, Justice Antonin Scalia said the clinics had failed to prove the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals acted improperly when it allowed the law to take effect at least until it can hold a hearing in January.

The Supreme Court split 5-4, with liberal justices wanting to block the law until the appeals process was finished.

Large areas of Texas are without an operating abortion clinic because hospitals have refused to give abortion doctors admitting privileges in those areas.

CHRIS TOMLINSON, Associated Press

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