Abortion Clinic Lawsuit Update

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – A federal appeals court in New Orleans will hear arguments April 28 in a lawsuit challenging a 2012 Mississippi law that threatens to close the state’s only abortion clinic.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals notified attorneys of the date on Monday.

The clinic, Jackson Women’s Health Organization, filed a federal lawsuit over the law, which requires each of its physicians to have local hospital admitting privileges.

A federal district judge allowed the law to take effect in mid-2012, but blocked the state from closing the clinic while it seeks to comply with the law. The clinic has been unable to get admitting privileges for its out-of-state physicians.

The state is asking the 5th Circuit to overturn the district judge’s ruling that has allowed the clinic to stay open.