Louisiana Abortion Law at the Supreme Court

We the People

National Constitution Center

News, News Commentary, History

4.6 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 12 March 2020

⏱️ 38 minutes

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Summary

A challenge to the Louisiana abortion law that requires doctors performing abortions to have hospital admitting privileges was heard by the Supreme Court last week. Julie Rikelman of the Center for Reproductive Rights, who argued on behalf of the abortion providers in June Medical Services v. Russo, and Catherine Glenn Foster of Americans United for Life, who authored an amicus brief on behalf of Members of Congress on the opposing side of the case, joined host Jeffrey Rosen on this week’s episode. They presented the arguments on both sides of the case — diving into the facts, considering whether admitting privilege requirements are prudent and whether the “undue burden” standard established by the 2016 Supreme Court case Whole Women’s Health v Hellerstedt is workable, and explaining how they think this case might impact the lives of women. Questions or comments about the podcast? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, and welcome
0:07.6	to We The People, a weekly show of constitutional debate.
0:11.3	The National Constitution Center is a nonpartisan nonprofit chartered by Congress to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.
0:21.0	Last week, the Supreme Court heard June Medical Services
0:24.8	versus Russo that's a challenge to the constitutionality of a Louisiana law that
0:29.6	requires doctors performing abortions to have hospital admitting privileges.
0:34.8	The lawsuit was brought by abortion providers who argue that Louisiana's law places an undue
0:38.8	burden on those seeking abortions and is unconstitutional under a Supreme Court case from 2016 called
0:45.4	Whole Women's Health versus Hellerstadt. Joining us to discuss the case are two of
0:50.1	America's leading expert on reproductive rights and the Constitution and two of the
0:56.0	leading experts on the case. Julie Rickleman is litigation director at the Center for
1:01.4	Reproductive Rights where she's worked since 2011.
1:04.0	She was previously Vice President of Litigation at NBC Universal.
1:08.0	And Julie argued the Russo case on behalf of the petitioners before the Supreme Court and we are so honored to have her here.
1:17.0	Julie, welcome.
1:18.0	Thank you so much, glad to be here.
1:20.0	And Catherine Glenn Foster is president and CEO of Americans United for Life.
1:24.7	She has testified before and advised the Senate Judiciary Committee and various congressional
1:29.6	committees.
1:30.9	She's also spent seven years as litigation counsel at Alliance defending freedom.
1:35.8	In the Russo case, she submitted an amicus brief on behalf of members of Congress on determining
1:41.1	the burden in abortion cases.
	...

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