RICHMOND, Va., June 25 (UPI) -- A U.S. appeals court has ruled a Virginia law banning late-term abortions, struck down four years ago by a three-judge panel, is constitutional.
A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Court of Appeals overturned the Virginia law in 2005 by a 2-1 vote. The panel found it did not allow for exceptions to safeguard a woman's health.
The U.S. Supreme Court ordered the appeals judges to take another look two years ago after upholding a congressional version similar to the Virginia ban, The Washington Post said.
The appeals court split 6-5 in its constitutional ruling Wednesday. Judge Paul Niemeyer, in the majority opinion, wrote the possibility a doctor would face criminal liability are so limited, it should not invalidate the law in other circumstances.
