Miss. Seeks New Ruling on Abortion Clinic Law

BY EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS
Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Mississippi is asking a federal appeals court to uphold a state law requiring abortion clinic doctors to obtain hospital admitting privileges.

In late July, a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the 2012 law is unconstitutional because it would close Mississippi’s only abortion clinic.

Attorney General Jim Hood filed papers Wednesday asking the full court to reverse the panel’s ruling and allow Mississippi to enforce the law.

It was not immediately clear when the full court would consider the request.

Physicians at the abortion clinic, Jackson Women’s Health Organization, applied for admitting privileges but clinic owner Diane Derzis says they did not receive responses from Jackson-area hospitals.

Supporters say the law would protect patients, but opponents say it’s designed to restrict access to abortion.