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The Supreme Court on Monday reaffirmed and strengthened constitutional protections for abortion rights, striking down parts of a restrictive Texas law that could have drastically reduced the number of abortion clinics in the state, leaving them only in the largest metropolitan areas. The 5-to-3 decision was the court’s most sweeping statement on abortion since Planned Parenthood v. Casey in 1992, which reaffirmed the constitutional right to abortion established in 1973 in Roe v. Wade. (Liptak, 6/27)

The Texas provisions required doctors who perform abortions at clinics to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital and ordered clinics to meet hospital-like standards of surgical centers. (Barnes, 6/27)

“We conclude that neither of these provisions offers medical benefits sufficient to justify the burdens upon access that each imposes,” Breyer wrote in Whole Woman’s Health vs. Hellderstedt. “Each places substantial obstacles in the path of women seeking a pre-viability abortion, each constitutes an undue burden on abortion access, and each violates the federal Constitution.” (Savage, 6/27)

One of the key questions was which side Justice Anthony Kennedy, who has been a swing vote on abortion issues, would join. He signed onto the majority opinion with the four justices who traditionally support abortion rights.The immediate impact of the ruling means that the plaintiff in the case, Whole Woman’s Health, will not have to close any more of its Texas clinics. (Rovner, 6/27)

If the ruling had been upheld, the number of abortion clinics in Texas would have shrunk to about 10 from more than 40 before the law, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights. (Ferris, 6/27)

Texas argued that the law was necessary to improve the standard of care at abortion clinics and protect the health and safety of the patients. But supporters of abortion access said they were unnecessary and have already led to the closure of half of the clinics in the state, with more likely to follow. (Nather, 6/27)

As the Texas case made its way through the federal courts over the years, numerous misunderstandings and pure fiction about the health risks of abortion entered the debate. Among them were claims that the procedure is fraught with complications, causes cancer, leads to reduced fertility and results in depression, or even suicide. One of the most critical questions the Supreme Court had to address was whether courts need to consider scientific evidence supporting the laws. A lower court said they do not. But there was a lot for the justices to look at in the medical literature. (Cha, 6/27)

The ruling ends a three-year saga that put Texas in the national spotlight for the broad sweep of its attempt to restrict abortion access. The initial effort to pass the law was temporarily derailed by a filibuster in the state Senate, with then-Sen. Wendy Davis drawing worldwide attention for her talkathon to block the law. (Martin and Leslie, 6/27)

[Nancy Northrup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights] called the ruling “a complete and total victory” that “renews the promise of Roe v. Wade for the next generation.” Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican who strongly opposes abortion, called the ruling “a devastating blow” to efforts to protect women’s health and safety. (Martin, 6/27)

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, said on Monday: “The decision erodes states’ lawmaking authority to safeguard the health and safety of women, and subjects more innocent life to being lost.” He added that “Texas’ goal is to protect innocent life, while ensuring the highest health and safety standards for women.” President Barack Obama, whose administration argued against the law, said: “These restrictions harm women’s health and place an unconstitutional obstacle in the path of a woman’s reproductive freedom.” (Bravin, 6/27)

When the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday struck down Texas’ 2013 abortion restrictions as unconstitutional, it was a victory years in the making for former state Sen. Wendy Davis and her “unruly mob.” Almost three years to the day after her 11-hour filibuster of the restrictive legislation, the high court’s ruling was in some ways a personal vindication for Davis — and a defining moment for her legacy — particularly after she backed away from the spotlight following a gubernatorial election loss in 2014. (Ura, 6/27)

Former Texas Senator Wendy Davis says she was overjoyed that Supreme court struck down a Texas abortion law that placed conditions on granting women access to abortion procedures. (6/27)

Justice Stephen Breyer, who wrote the opinion, was joined by Justices Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented. [Here] are excerpts from the majority opinion, the concurring opinion by Justice Ginsburg and dissenting opinions by Justices Alito and Thomas. (Gershman and Palazzolo, 6/27)

In a major abortion ruling Monday, the Supreme Court struck down parts of a Texas law that would have forced dozens of clinics to close. Here are reactions from all sides of the issue. (6/27)