The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to hear a challenge to the legality of buffer zones used to protect access to abortion clinics and limit harassment of patients in a challenge brought by anti-abortion activists who have argued that their free speech rights were being violated.

Justice Clarence Thomas issued a forceful dissent on Monday after the Supreme Court declined to hear a case challenging First Amendment restrictions for protesters outside abortion clinics. Thomas, an appointee of former President George H.

The Supreme Court refused Monday to hear a pair of cases from abortion opponents who say laws limiting anti-abortion demonstrations near clinics violate their First Amendment rights.