By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor WASHINGTON, D.C. (LBM)—The Supreme Court has accepted two cases that will determine whether Louisiana laws are constitutional. One case deals with a pro-life issue and the other involves non-unanimous juries in felony cases. ADMITTING PRIVILEGES In 2014 Louisiana legislators passed Act 620, requiring abortion doctors to have admitting privileges in a nearby hospital in case of complications during an abortion. Lawmakers concluded this requirement would ensure “continuity of care, qualifications, communication, and prevent abandonment of patients.” Critics of the law say it is just an end run to close the only three abortion clinics in the state, and argue the matter was settled when the Supreme Court invalidated the portion of a Texas case that required doctors performing abortions to maintain patient-admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of their abortion facility – the issue being contested in the Louisiana law. U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles, an Obama appointee, ruled against the Louisiana law, but the largely conservative U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit overruled him. The Supreme Court will hear arguments during the 2020 … [Read more...]