LUBBOCK, Texas -
Justice Anthony Kennedy sided with the left, throwing out Texas rigid abortion restrictions that would have closed all but nine clinics across the state.
Despite Monday's decision, pro-life protestor Dorothy Boyett said the battle is far from over.
"God's not going to let them down if they do the right thing," Boyett said.
Lubbock State Senator, Charles Perry agreed there is still more work to be done.
"There are other states that have had laws approved or held constitutional at the lower courts level," Perry said, "and we'll go back to the drawing board to see what areas we can tweak."
The high court ruling targets two specific provisions in Texas 2013 HB2 law. First, the physicians performing abortions need admitting privileges at hospitals within 30 miles of the clinic. Second, clinics must meet full-service surgical requirements, similar to hospitals. Both were struck down by the 5-3 vote.
Attorney Curtis Parrish said the entire law would not have been affected.
"It was only these two that had a constitutional challenge to them," Parrish said, "For instance, house bill two had that 20 week provision, which means no abortions after 20 weeks of gestation. That's still in place, so it wasn't the entire law that was done away with, it was just these two provisions that directly related to the providers, the doctors that provide abortion, the clinics that provide abortions.
Destiny Molina, vice president of Texas Tech Student Democrats, said it was a fight against overall women's health, not just abortion providers.
"It's simple education matter, where it's not just abortions that are taking place in these clinics," Molina said, "Mammograms, gynecological care, sex education, just basic things that come at an affordable cost."
Sen. Perry also said it is about women's health issues, but from a different perspective.
"It's not so much about the abortion issue," Perry said, "Our law of the land is what it is. I personally find it a tough law. That's the law we are going to under, we just want to make sure those procedures are done as responsible as possible in Texas."
Lubbock's Planned Parenthood clinic was shut down before the HB2 law went into effect three years ago. Former clinic director of Planned Parenthood Woman's Health Center, Angela Martinez said the proposed changes made it impossible for the clinic to remain open.
"It was out of anticipation, we knew we wouldn't be able to meet the guidelines," Martinez said.
The Supreme Court decision could lead to the opening of a new clinic in Lubbock, though Martinez said there is no word yet if that is even being considered. Pro-life supporter Boyett said she would continue the work she previously had done while the clinic was open.
"If and when they open a clinic in Lubbock, of course I would be doing what I do for 20 years," Boyett said, "which is reaching out to women and saving babies and offering practical help and solutions for people in an unplanned pregnancy."
Currently there are 19 abortion clinics operating in state. Before HB2, there were more then 40.
