John Hellerstedt et al.
Scott A. Keller, Counsel of Record
After a bitter legislative battle that included a high-profile filibuster by Democratic State Senator Wendy Davis, Texas enacted sweeping new regulations on abortion providers within the State on July 18, 2013. Among the provisions in House Bill 2 (HB2) was the requirement that abortion clinics meet the same standards as ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) and that physicians performing abortions at the clinics have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic. A few months later, a group of abortion rights organizations and women’s health clinics filed suit against the commissioner of the Texas Department of Health Services…