IN OUR VIEW | Lasting Legacy: President Trump's term could affect abortion fight for years to come

President Donald Trump's four years in office may well have a lasting effect on the fight against abortion.

In 2015, a three-judge panel with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked Texas and Louisiana from enforcing bans on Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood.

An appeal to the full 5th Circuit in 2017 resulted in a deadlock - there were 14 judges on the court and they voted 7-7.

So the states were barred from enforcing the funding bans.

But things have changed. The 5th Circuit now has six judges appointed by President Trump. Though one recused and another did not join the 5th Circuit in time to hear the case, on Monday, the remaining four made a majority vote to overturn the earlier ruling and allow Texas and Louisiana to enforce the Medicaid funding bans.

This doesn't mean the fight is over. The case could head to the U.S. Supreme Court. But the nation's highest court now has three justices appointed by President Trump.

We will have to wait and see how that goes. But it may well show that the president's legacy will live on when to comes to abortion legislation - and probably many other things as well.

Upcoming Events