Bristol, a town with an approximate population of 44,000, is geographically divided by the Virginia and Tennessee state line, which runs through its main street. This division creates a significant legal distinction regarding abortion access:
- Tennessee: Abortion is illegal due to a 2022 Supreme Court ruling that returned abortion legislative authority to individual states.
- Virginia: Abortion remains legal.
Clinic Relocation and Legal Challenges
Following the change in Tennessee law, Bristol Women's Health, the city's only abortion clinic, relocated less than a mile across the state line to continue operations legally in Virginia. The clinic is now facing an eviction notice from its landlords, brothers Chase and Chadwick King, with a court hearing scheduled for December 22, 2024, in Bristol's Circuit Court.
- Clinic's Argument: Legal representation for the clinic asserts its right to renew its lease for an additional six years.
- Landlords' Previous Attempt: An earlier attempt by the landlords to evict the clinic in September of the previous year was dismissed. They had claimed the clinic fraudulently concealed its abortion services, a claim rejected by Judge Sage Johnson, who noted that a simple internet search would have revealed the clinic's services.
Diana Derzis, the clinic's owner, has indicated a desire to keep the clinic in Bristol, Virginia, even if evicted, though she acknowledged the scarcity of suitable alternative facilities in the area.
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 abortions. 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 a nearby option for millions of individuals in southern states where abortion access is restricted.
Victoria Cobb, director of the anti-abortion organization The Family Foundation, views Bristol's location as central to the abortion debate. Her organization has pursued local bylaws to restrict abortion in states where it remains legal. The Family Foundation previously argued that the clinic violated zoning regulations that prohibit uses endangering life, questioning why this would not include unborn life. They advocated for ordinances preventing new clinics and blocking expansion of existing ones. Similar local efforts have been attempted in Washington and Russell counties.
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 their jurisdictional remit.