US District Judge Henry Hudson, on Monday, upheld two Virginia laws restricting access to abortions, while striking down two others.
The Associated Press reported that mandate requiring pregnant women to get an ultrasound done at least 24 hours prior to the abortion was upheld.
Another law that was upheld required all abortions to be performed by physicians, which prevents physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners from carrying out the procedures.
The overturned contested laws included one that required second-trimester abortions to take place only in licensed outpatient hospitals and another that obligated clinics conducting first-trimester abortions to meet the criteria of general and surgical hospitals.
Many states across the country passed stricter laws on abortion restrictions this year, with few states even enacting de facto bans on abortions. Most of these laws have been challenged in court.
The ruling has prompted mixed emotions from advocates of women’s rights.
Rosemary Codding, the founder and director of the Falls Church Healthcare Center told the Richmond Times-Dispatch, “We’re disappointed that our patients did not get their constitutionally-protected right to accessing health care without legislative interference that they are entitled to and that they deserve.”
According to AP, Emily Munro Scott, an attorney for the state, defended the laws saying, “Inconvenience is not an unconstitutional burden.”
