Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

U.S. Supreme Court Opinion Might Give States Guidance On Abortion Law

Photo courtesy of G. Michael Fenner

The U.S. Supreme Court is currently deliberating a Texas abortion case. The ruling is expected later this month.

Texas says its laws protect the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens. But opponents say the laws are designed to block the availability of the procedure.

A decisive opinion from the Supreme Court could resolve problems with certain abortion laws in South Dakota and other states, some of them hung up in appeals courts.

But the Texas case won't necessarily offer an answer this time around. With the recent death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, conservatives are down one vote. Even if Justice Anthony Kennedy follows his conservative rather than libertarian leanings, they can't do better than a tie.

It's a complicated issue that leaves legal questions hanging. SDPB's Victoria Wicks takes a long look at the legalities at play in current arguments over abortion.

Rapid City freelancer Victoria L. Wicks has been producing news for SDPB since August 2007. She Retired from this position in March 2023.