SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) 鈥� The New Mexico Supreme Court on Thursday struck down abortion restrictions by conservative cities and counties at the request of the state attorney general.
The unanimous opinion reinforces the state鈥檚 position as having some of the most liberal abortion laws in the country. The ruling preserves access to abortion procedures across a state that has become a major destination for people from other states with bans.
Attorneys representing New Mexico鈥檚 Lea and Roosevelt counties and the cities of Hobbs and Clovis had argued in court that local abortion ordinances can鈥檛 be struck down under provisions within the 鈥渁nti-vice鈥� law known as the .
Writing for the majority opinion, Justice C. Shannon Bacon said that state law precludes cities and counties from restricting abortion or regulating abortion clinics.
鈥淭he ordinances violate this core precept and invade the Legislature鈥檚 authority to regulate access to and provision of reproductive healthcare,鈥� she wrote. 鈥淲e hold the Ordinances are preempted in their entirety.鈥�
Opposition to abortion runs deep in New Mexico communities along the border with Texas, which has in the U.S.
Morgan Lee, The Associated Press
