High Court to Decide Whether to Take up Major Abortion Case

Abortion is back before the Supreme Court, and the justices could signal by the end of June whether they are likely to take up the biggest case on the hot-button subject in nearly a quarter-century

In a Tuesday July 2, 2013 photo, pro-abortion rights supporter Yatzel Sabat, left, and anti-abortion protestor Amanda Reed demonstrate at the state Capitol in Austin, Texas. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP

WASHINGTON—Abortion is back before the Supreme Court, and the justices could signal by the end of June whether they are likely to take up the biggest case on the hot-button subject in nearly a quarter-century.

If the court steps in, the hearing and the eventual ruling would come amid the 2016 presidential campaign.

The court is considering an emergency appeal from abortion providers in Texas, who want the justices to block two provisions of a state law that already has forced the closure of roughly half the licensed abortion clinics in the state.

Ten of the remaining 19 clinics will have to shut their doors by July 1, without an order from the Supreme Court.

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