Federal Judge Orders Trial on Alabama Admitting Privileges Law

Reuters: Legal challenge to Alabama abortion law will go to trial, judge rules, by Verna Gates:

A federal judge on Monday ordered a trial to determine whether a new Alabama law requiring doctors who perform abortions to obtain hospital admitting privileges poses a significant impediment for women seeking an abortion.

Since abortion clinics typically use traveling physicians, the law could cause the closure of three of Alabama's five facilities, a potential constitutional violation, abortion supporters have argued in court.

In an 86-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson cited the possibility of an "undue burden." . . .