Legal Challenges Emerge for Virginia Abortion Clinic in Bi-State Bristol
The town of Bristol, with a population of approximately 44,000, is geographically divided by the state line between Virginia and Tennessee, which runs along its main street. Following the 2022 Supreme Court decision that returned abortion legislation to individual states, Tennessee implemented a near-total ban on abortion. This action was mirrored by 11 other states.
Clinic Relocation and Services
As a result, Bristol Women's Health, the town's sole abortion clinic, relocated less than a mile across the state line to the Virginia side of Bristol, where abortion services remain legal. The clinic now serves individuals traveling from states with restrictions, with data from the Guttmacher Institute indicating that 155,000 people crossed state lines for abortion procedures last year, including over 9,200 who traveled to Virginia. Barbara Schwartz, co-founder of the State Line Abortion Access Partnership (SLAAP), states that Bristol's location makes the clinic the closest option for abortion services for a significant number of residents in the southern United States.
Ongoing Legal Disputes
The clinic faces an upcoming Circuit Court hearing on December 22 regarding an eviction notice issued in April 2024 by landlords Chase and Chadwick King. The clinic's legal representation asserts its right to renew its lease for an additional six years. Should the court rule in favor of the property owners, the clinic would need to secure a new location.
This is not the first attempt by the landlords to remove the clinic. Previously, they claimed the clinic fraudulently concealed its abortion services, stating their opposition to such practices. This prior case was dismissed in September of the previous year, with Judge Sage Johnson noting that a "simple internet search" would have revealed the clinic's services. Clinic owner Diana Derzis has expressed a desire to keep the facility in Bristol, Virginia, but has also noted a scarcity of suitable alternative premises within the city.
Local Regulatory Efforts
Victoria Cobb, director of the anti-abortion advocacy group The Family Foundation, has highlighted Bristol's position in the national abortion debate. Her organization has initiated local efforts to restrict abortion access in Bristol through municipal bylaws, a tactic utilized by anti-abortion campaigners in states where abortion is legal. Ms. Cobb stated that her group assists local residents who she claims do not want their town to become an "abortion destination."
The Family Foundation has argued that the clinic's presence violates local zoning regulations that prohibit uses which could endanger life. They proposed an ordinance to prevent new clinics from opening and to block the expansion of existing ones. Similar local restrictions have been pursued in other areas, including Washington and Russell counties.
City officials in Bristol considered these proposals. Jay Detrick, the city's planning director, noted the unusual 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.