The Texas abortion ruling is a sideshow in a much more consequential battle

A protestor.
(Image credit: Illustrated | Getty Images, iStock)

Texas' abortion law is a legal monstrosity, but it's not the future of abortion-related lawmaking in the United States. Which means Friday's Supreme Court ruling allowing that state's abortion providers to challenge the law is interesting — the court declined to block enforcement of the law while challenges proceed — but it probably doesn't matter all that much for the future of abortion rights.

Why? The Texas law is a workaround, and pro-life lawmakers soon won't need a workaround in order to restrict women's reproductive rights.

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Joel Mathis, The Week US

Joel Mathis is a writer with 30 years of newspaper and online journalism experience. His work also regularly appears in National Geographic and The Kansas City Star. His awards include best online commentary at the Online News Association and (twice) at the City and Regional Magazine Association.