Mississippi’s Abortion SCOTUS Case Could Change Louisiana Law

Once again, abortion rights hang in the balance of the Supreme Court Justices as they proceed in hearing a lawsuit over the 15-week abortion ban in Mississippi.

Dobbs vs Jackson Women's Health Organization was brought on when Mississippi's last abortion clinic, Jackson Women's Health Organization, sued the state over their abortion ban passed in 2018. The lawsuit made its way up to the Supreme Court, and that could spell potential disaster for Louisiana's ban on abortion.

After Mississippi passed their 15-week abortion ban, Louisiana passed a similar law the same year, banning 15-week abortions. So if, let's say, the Supreme Court determines Mississippi's abortion ban is unconstitutional, Louisiana's law could be challenged in the courts and eventually be struck down.

Louisiana's 15-week abortion ban was introduced in 2018 by Senator John Milkovich (D). The law bans abortion after 15 weeks of gestation, with exceptions only for medical emergencies. It passed the state Senate and House with ease and was signed into law by Governor John Bel Edwards.

The judges of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals noted that Mississippi's law clearly violates the precedent established in Roe v Wade that established abortion can't be banned until the fetus can survive outside the womb on its own.

Twenty-four weeks is commonly thought of by medical professionals as to when they believe a fetus can survive outside the womb. Currently, 16 states ban abortion at 20 weeks.