The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that a Massachusetts law establishing a 35-foot buffer zone around abortion clinics was unconstitutional.
In a unanimous ruling, the court said such buffer zones violate the free speech rights of would-be protesters. Still, it was a limited ruling in which the justices mainly took issue with Massachusetts placing restrictions on public sidewalks and streets. Hence, the court said that states could indeed pass laws to guarantee access to abortion clinics, so long as they don't needlessly restrict speech.