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Friday, June 24, 2016

Supreme Court decisions to be announced (June 27 - Abortion case in TX, Virginia former governor McDonnell)

from the Blog of the Constitution Center dot-org:
On Monday, June 27, the Court will announce decisions or per curium opinions in three cases, two of which are considered major cases. Here is where we stand as of June 23, 2016.

Cases Heard
Whole Women’s Health v. Cole (Abortion)
Status: Arguments on March 2, 2016; Decision Pending
The petitioners in Whole Woman’s Health v. Cole claim a Texas law enacted in 2013 would force about 75 percent of the state’s abortion services to close. Two provisions in the law require that doctors at clinics have hospital admitting privileges within 30 miles of the clinics, and that clinics have facilities equal to those of an outpatient surgical center. Texas officials believe the laws protect the health of the women seeking abortions by guaranteeing better care.
The Supreme Court will decide two issues. First, it will look at if the appeals court properly handled a question about if the new restrictions would actually work to protect the health of women. The appeals court said it needed to defer to the Texas state legislature on that issue.
The second question is a broader one. The Court must decide it the law imposes an undue burden on women who seek abortions. The Court last ruled on this question in a 1992 decision, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, which reaffirmed the Roe v. Wade decision of 1973.
United States v. McDonnell (Political Corruption)
Status: Arguments on April 27, 2016; Decision Pending
This case involves former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. In the public corruption verdict against McDonnell, the case pivots on the definition of alleged “official acts” undertaken by McDonnell to benefit a businessman, and if those acts were actually bribes.
McDonnell and his wife were convicted under a handful of laws that make it a crime to take money or other valuable things in return for the exercise of “official acts” in government, at the national, state or local level.   Congress, in passing those laws, however, did not specify what “official acts” would be covered.
McDonnell’s prison sentence is on hold while the Court considers the case, and his wife’s separate case is on hold.

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