u.s. supreme court monday hand victory abortion right advocate strike texas law impose strict regulations abortion doctor facilities follow timeline challenge july 2013 republican-led texas legislature pass republican governor rick perry sign law know h.b put new requirements abortion providers state officials say law intend ensure health safety women september 2013 law enforce plan parenthood abortion providers challenge measure assert certain provision include one relate doctor admit privilege type formal affiliation hospital within 30 miles 48 km abortion clinic aim decrease abortion availability state october 2013 u.s. district judge side largely challengers block admit privilege provision march 2014 new orleans-based u.s. court appeal 5th circuit regional federal appeal court cover texas louisiana mississippi reverse low court permit much law take effect april 2014 whole woman health abortion providers bring new complaint texas cite effect law implementation number clinics close challengers focus admitting-privileges requirement regulations govern clinic facility standards august 2014 u.s. district court judge declare admit privilege clinic requirements unconstitutional burden women access abortion october 2014 u.s. court appeal 5th circuit intervene allow implementation new regulations u.s. supreme court block part order mandate clinics meet hospital-grade standards go effect june 2015 consider full merit challenge u.s. court appeal 5th circuit reverse district judge decision find judge defer legislature state health safety goals appeal court also say lawsuit bar legal issue raise already address case file plan parenthood june 2015 u.s. supreme court 5-4 vote put temporary hold 5th circuit rule justices consider whether hear challengers appeal action block provision regard hospital-grade standards take effect september 2015 abortion providers challenge texas restrictions ask u.s. supreme court hear appeal 5th circuit rule november 2015 u.s. supreme court agree hear challenge abortion providers texas restrictions february 2016 conservative u.s. supreme court justice antonin scalia supporter abortion restrictions die age 79 leave court shorthanded evenly divide four liberals four conservatives march 2016 u.s. supreme court hear 85 minutes oral arguments case know whole woman health v. hellerstedt court four liberal justices indicate believe law intrude woman constitutional right abortion four conservative justices express doubt claim abortion providers law force numerous clinics shut june 2016 u.s. supreme court strike texas law find place undue burden women exercise right u.s. constitution end pregnancy court declare provision law admit privilege hospital-grade facilities unconstitutional rule mark firm endorsement u.s. abortion right since 1992 plan parenthood southeastern pennsylvania v. casey rule timeline milestones legal fight texas abortion law