The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a Texas law that would force abortion clinics to upgrade their standards.
In a 5-4 vote the justices granted an emergency appeal from the clinics.
The clinics object to the law's requirements that mandate they have facilities equal to surgical centers and only use doctors that have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.
The temporary block will remain in effect until the high court decides whether or not to hear the clinics' appeal of a lower court ruling.
Many court watchers believe the decision to block indicates that the justices will likely hear the full appeal, which could lead to the biggest abortion case the Supreme Court has heard in nearly 25 years.
Nineteen abortion clinics remain in Texas. When the law originally went into effect in 2013 Texas had 41 clinics.
Of the 19 remaining, more than half expected to close when a lower court upheld the requirements concerning doctors' admitting privileges and surgical center standards.
Supporters of the law, which include Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, say it provides common-sense measures designed to protect women.
Opponents say it forces clinics to close and denies women access to abortion facilities.
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