Supreme Court puts part of Texas abortion law on hold

The U.S. Supreme Court today granted an emergency appeal from Texas abortionists trying to stop their state from enforcing regulations adopted in 2013.

The rules, set to go into effect July 1, would have required abortion facilities to meet standards set for ambulatory surgery centers. Abortion advocates said the rules would have forced all but 10 abortion facilities statewide to close.

But a majority of Supreme Court justices agreed to put the law on hold until the court can consider whether to hear the full appeal during its next term, in the fall. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled the law did not unduly burden the right to abortion but provided safety measures to protect women. The same court previously upheld another portion of the regulations, which required abortionists to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. After Texas began enforcing that requirement, the number of abortion facilities in the state dropped from 40 to about 17.

If the justices agree to hear the case, which seems likely, it would be the biggest abortion case before the Supreme Court in 25 years. Texas lawmakers passed the new regulations measures by a wide margin.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.