Judge Grants Missouri’s Last Remaining Abortion Clinic A Reprieve For Now

The Associated Press: Judge Says Missouri Clinic Can Keep Providing Abortions
A judge issued an order Friday to keep Missouri's only abortion clinic operating over the objections of state health officials, delivering abortion-rights advocates a courtroom victory after a string of setbacks in legislatures around the U.S. St. Louis Circuit Judge Michael Stelzer said Planned Parenthood's St. Louis clinic can continue providing abortions despite the Missouri health department's refusal to renew its license over a variety of patient safety concerns. He said the temporary restraining order was necessary to "prevent irreparable injury" to Planned Parenthood. (Salter and Lieb, 5/31)

The Wall Street Journal: Missouri Judge Rules State’s Only Abortion Clinic Can Keep Operating For Now
The judge granted Planned Parenthood a temporary restraining order, saying the group demonstrated immediate harm would occur if its license was allowed to expire. A hearing for a temporary injunction is set for June 4. “We are glad that the governor has been prevented from putting women’s health and lives in danger—for now—and call on him to stop this egregious politicalization of public health in an attempt to ban all safe, legal abortion care in the state,” said Dr. Leana Wen, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, in a statement after the ruling. (Raice, 6/1)

The Associated Press: Q&A: Possible Closure Of Missouri's Lone Abortion Clinic
Missouri law requires an annual inspection of abortion clinics. The inspection in St. Louis was in March. The health department cited several deficiencies, including "at least one incident in which patient safety was gravely compromised." It also cited what it called "failed surgical abortions in which women remained pregnant," and an alleged failure to obtain "informed consent." At a hearing before Judge Michael Stelzer on Thursday, Planned Parenthood attorney Jamie Boyer said the seven deficiencies have been "remedied," but the license is threatened unless the non-staff physicians agree to be interviewed. Boyer said Planned Parenthood can't force people who aren't on staff to cooperate. (Salter, 6/1)

Kansas City Star: Judge Blocks Closure Of Missouri’s Last Abortion Clinic
Planned Parenthood said that only two of the seven physicians in question are actually employees. They were interviewed by regulators this week. The other five, who work for a teaching hospital or a medical school, are under contract to Planned Parenthood and can’t be compelled to speak with the state, according to an attorney for the organization. Of those five, two are medical residents who have since finished their rotations and are no longer working at the clinic. (Hancock and Thomas, 5/31)

KCUR: Judge's Order Keeps Missouri's Sole Abortion Clinic Open — For Now 
The clinic’s medical director, David Eisenberg, said that while the decision is temporary, it sent a clear message to Gov. Mike Parson that abortion is legal and access necessary. "Your Department of Health and Senior Services is supposed to promote and protect the health of Missourians," Eisenberg said. "Forcing them to leave the state for routine care is the exact opposite of that mission." (Fentem, 6/1)

Kansas City Star: Missouri Women Look To Out-Of-State Providers For Abortions
Twenty-seven abortions were scheduled last Thursday at the Hope Clinic, and the license plates on cars parked in front of the low-rise building with bulletproof doors tell the story: Missouri. Missouri. Illinois. Illinois. Missouri. The 45-year-old Granite City, Ill. clinic, located 10 minutes from downtown St. Louis, draws about half of its patients from Missouri. (Thomas, 6/2)

The New York Times: For Millions Of American Women, Abortion Access Is Out Of Reach
After the closing of dozens of abortion clinics around the country in recent years, more than 11 million women in the United States live more than an hour’s drive from an abortion facility, according to an analysis of population data and drive times. The last remaining abortion provider in Missouri was set to see its license expire Friday amid a standoff with state officials, but a judge gave the parties more time to resolve the dispute. If the clinic were to stop providing abortion services, about 25,000 more women would be pushed outside the range that experts consider to be accessible for care. (Lai and Patel, 5/31)

Meanwhile, some states take steps to protect abortion rights while others move to further restrict the procedures —

CNN: Illinois And Nevada Approve Abortion Rights Bills That Remove Long-Standing Criminal Penalties
While a wave of Republican-led states have recently pushed laws restricting abortion, Illinois and Nevada moved legislation forward Friday aimed at protecting access to the procedure. The Illinois Legislature has sent Senate Bill 25, also called the Reproductive Health Act, to the governor's desk that would protect the "fundamental rights of individuals to make autonomous decisions about one's own reproductive health." The measure passed the Illinois Democratic-led Senate late Friday with a 34-20 vote. Only one Democrat voted against the bill, and Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker has said he will sign the legislation. (Stracqualursi and Boyette, 6/1)

The Associated Press: Sisolak Signs Nevada Bill Repealing Abortion Crime Statute
Physicians will no longer be required to tell a pregnant woman about the “emotional implications” of an abortion under a law signed by Nevada’s Democratic governor. Gov. Steve Sisolak signed the measure on Friday. The legislation also repeals a requirement that physicians document a pregnant woman’s marital status and removes a criminal penalty for anyone who supplies a woman with medication to induce an abortion without the advice of a physician. (5/31)

KQED: 'We Believe That A Woman Has A Right To Choose': Pelosi, Harris, Klobuchar Rally California Women
California Democratic women gave House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris and San Francisco Mayor London Breed a warm, hometown welcome Saturday morning as the state party kicked off its convention in San Francisco. The high profile politicians were among a number of women who addressed a packed, boisterous room of hundreds for the Women's Caucus meeting, where Caucus Chair Christine Pelosi — the speaker's daughter — made women's reproductive health the theme. (Lagos, 6/1)

The Associated Press: Judge To Hear Bid To Block Indiana Abortion Procedure Ban
A federal judge is set to take up the American Civil Liberties Union’s bid to block a new Indiana law that would ban a second-trimester abortion procedure. A judge in Indianapolis was scheduled to hear arguments Monday from the state’s attorneys and the ALCU of Indiana. The group is seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent the ban on dilation and evacuation abortions from taking effect July 1. (6/3)

The Associated Press: Louisiana Lawmakers Add New Regulations For Abortion Clinics
After passing one of the nation’s strictest abortion bans, Louisiana lawmakers also have passed new abortion clinic regulations that critics said would create additional hurdles to access. One measure will lengthen the time that clinics must retain patient records, with detailed requirements and hefty penalties for violations. The other will require women seeking an abortion to receive lengthy background information about the doctor who will perform the procedure. (DeSlatte, 6/1)

Boston Globe: 7 Arrested At Anti-Abortion Rally On Boston Common
Anti-abortion activists rallying on Boston Common clashed with counterprotesters Sunday afternoon, resulting in seven arrests. Chanting and carrying signs opposing new restrictive abortion laws in several states, about 100 counterprotesters booed and jeered at the more than 100 anti-abortion activists as they gathered. At the Parkman Bandstand, anti-abortion activists played music, including Christian rock and church hymns, to drown out the opposition and held signs asking people to “pray to end abortion.” Some dropped to their knees, eyes closed, to pray. (Ortiz, 6/2)