Bristol, a city divided by the Virginia and Tennessee state line, is the location of Bristol Women's Health, an abortion clinic that relocated to the Virginia side following Tennessee's 2022 abortion ban. The clinic is currently facing an eviction notice from its landlords, with a court hearing scheduled for December 22, 2024. This legal dispute unfolds alongside local efforts by an anti-abortion advocacy group to restrict abortion access in Bristol.
Geographic and Legal Context
Bristol, with an approximate population of 44,000, is geographically bisected by the state line between Virginia and Tennessee, which runs through its main street. This division creates differing legal statuses regarding abortion access:
- Tennessee: Abortion is illegal following a 2022 Supreme Court ruling that returned abortion legislative authority to individual states. Tennessee's near-total ban was mirrored by 11 other states.
- Virginia: Abortion services remain legal.
Bristol Women's Health, the city's sole abortion clinic, relocated less than a mile across the state line to the Virginia side of Bristol to continue its operations legally.
Ongoing Eviction Proceedings and Legal Disputes
The clinic is facing an eviction notice issued in April 2024 by its landlords, brothers Chase and Chadwick King. A court hearing on the matter is scheduled for December 22, 2024, in Bristol's Circuit Court. Legal representation for the clinic asserts its right to renew its lease for an additional six years.
This marks a second attempt by the landlords to evict the clinic. An earlier attempt in September of the previous year was dismissed. In that instance, the landlords claimed the clinic fraudulently concealed its abortion services, stating their opposition to such practices. Judge Sage Johnson, however, dismissed the case, noting that a simple internet search would have revealed the clinic's services.
Diana Derzis, the clinic's owner, has expressed a desire to keep the clinic in Bristol, Virginia, should an eviction proceed, though she has also acknowledged the scarcity of suitable alternative facilities in the area.
Local Regulatory Efforts
Victoria Cobb, director of The Family Foundation, an anti-abortion advocacy group, has highlighted Bristol's position in the national abortion debate. Her organization has pursued local bylaws aimed at restricting abortion in states where it remains legal. Ms. Cobb stated her group assists local residents in efforts to prevent Bristol from becoming a primary destination for abortion services.
The Family Foundation previously argued that the clinic violated local zoning regulations that prohibit uses endangering life. They advocated for ordinances that would prevent new clinics from opening and block the expansion of existing ones. Similar local efforts have been pursued in other areas, including Washington and Russell counties.
City officials in Bristol considered these proposals. Jay Detrick, Bristol's planning director, noted the unique nature of this debate at the local level. Ultimately, the city's attorney determined that imposing restrictions on a medical facility fell outside the city's regulatory authority.
Impact on Abortion Access
The State Line Abortion Access Partnership (SLAAP), co-founded by Barbara Schwartz, supports individuals traveling to Bristol Women's Health for abortion services. Data from the Guttmacher Institute indicates that 155,000 people crossed state lines for abortion services last year, with over 9,200 traveling to Virginia specifically. Bristol's location positions the clinic as an option for residents in southern states where abortion access is restricted.