FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The following statement can be attributed to ACLU-KY Staff Attorney Heather Gatnarek regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June Medical Services v. Russo:
“Today’s ruling from the Supreme Court is an important win in reaffirming the right to access abortion. We are relieved that people in Louisiana will retain the three clinics in the state providing abortion care. However, the fight continues. There are hundreds of similar deceptive laws that have been passed across the country, including here in Kentucky, designed to block access to abortion. While today’s victory is important, there is much more work ahead to ensure the rights affirmed today are a reality for people across the country.
Today’s ruling does not have an immediate impact on Kentucky’s two abortion providers. EMW Women’s Surgical Center and Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky have a case pending before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals challenging Kentucky’s regulations requiring abortion providers to have transfer agreements with hospitals and transport agreements with ambulance companies. We simply have to wait and see what, if any, bearing today’s ruling will have in that case. We are optimistic that the Sixth Circuit will follow the Supreme Court's precedent in this decision and strike down the unnecessary requirements we are challenging in our ongoing case. You can still access abortion services in Kentucky. We will never stop fighting to ensure that is always the case.”
