Appeals Court to Consider Miss. Abortion Law

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Attorneys are preparing to make federal appeals court arguments over a 2012 Mississippi law that threatens to close the state’s only abortion clinic.

The law requires any physician who does abortions at a clinic to have admitting privileges at a local hospital. Jackson Women’s Health Organization has been unable to obtain them.

A federal district judge let the law take effect in July 2012, after the clinic sued the state. But he blocked the state from closing the clinic while it tried to comply. The clinic remains open.

A 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel in New Orleans is scheduled to hear arguments over the Mississippi law Monday.