Notorious RBG basically tells Texas abortion law to GTFO
Supreme Court Justices give off an air of calm, intellectual composure just by the nature of their profession. They wear robes. They listen studiously to the animated arguments of others. They respond to those animated arguments in thoughtful written statements.
So it's up to us, the people for whom they are deciding the finer points of law, to interpret their words. And sometimes, those words are best interpreted as verbal smackdowns.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's written opinion concurring with the majority ruling that the Texas abortion law would place an "undue burden" on women is one of those smackdown moments.
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You can almost imagine RBG angrily shaking her head at anyone who might think the Texas law -- which required doctors at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at hospitals in the area, and demanded that clinics construct costly ambulatory surgical centers -- would be good for women's health.
"The Texas law called H. B. 2 inevitably will reduce the number of clinics and doctors allowed to provide abortion services," Ginsburg wrote. "It is beyond rational belief that H. B. 2 could genuinely protect the health of women."
Ginsburg argued that such a law would force women to turn away from clinics.
"When a State severely limits access to safe and legal procedures, women in desperate circumstances may resort to unlicensed rogue practitioners," she wrote.
Ginsburg's statements yet again cement the duality of her placid appearance and unapologetic persona. You can read her full opinion and the opinions of others below.
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Topics Supreme Court
Colin is Mashable's US & World Reporter. He previously interned at Foreign Policy magazine and The American Prospect. Colin is a graduate from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. When he's not at Mashable, you can most likely find him eating or playing some kind of sport.
