The Supreme Court ruled Monday to overturn a Texas law that required strict standards for abortion clinics, effectively increasing access to abortions for women across the state and setting off a wave of reaction on both sides of the issue.
The 5-3 decision in the Whole Woman's Health vs. Hellerstedt case overturned a decision by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld the Texas law,
according to National Public Radio. Justice Anthony Kennedy joined the liberal justices on the court while Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Chief Justice John Roberts dissented.
The law, passed in 2013, required all clinics that provide abortion services to meet the same standards as ambulatory surgical centers,
noted NBC News. Justices ruled, though, that those rules placed a substantial obstacle in the path of women seeking a pre-viability abortion.
Many Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate, cheered the Supreme Court's decision on social media.
Dan Patrick, Texas' lieutenant governor led many social media voices against the Supreme Court ruling.