The U.S. Supreme Court today issued a stay in Whole Woman’s Health v. Cole, the case concerning a highly restrictive Texas anti-abortion law that would all but ban abortion across the state. The Fifth Circuit court of appeals upheld the law earlier this month.

SCOTUS voted 5-4 to block the Fifth Circuit’s ruling from taking effect, pending an appeal to the Supreme Court.

The law, HB 2, would have forced clinics to meet the building standards of surgery centers, but the majority of them are small and don’t have the budget to perform the required upgrades. It would also require clinic doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, a requirement few of the state’s clinics are in a position to meet.

If the Court deems the law Constitutional or declines to hear the case, Texas will be left with only 7 clinics statewide.

Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Scalia, Thomas, and Alito voted to deny the stay application.

[Photo: AP Images]