A US appeals court has allowed a stringent state abortion law to move forward, raising the stakes of a coming vote on Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee.

The 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals in St Louis vacated a lower court ruling on Monday, allowing Missouri to enforce a restrictive abortion law. The law requires abortion providers to have admitting privileges at local hospitals, and requires abortion clinics to be licensed as hospital-grade, ambulatory surgical centres.

These strenuous requirements are difficult for many abortion providers to meet, and could result in a number of clinics being shuttered – one of the reasons the Supreme Court struck down a similar law in Texas in 2016.

But the Missouri appeals court tried to distinguish its decision from the Supreme Court’s nationwide edict, noting that it was possible for some Missouri clinics to obtain waivers from the requirement. The judges also claimed the lower court had failed to fully weigh the benefits of requiring doctors to be affiliated with local hospitals.

“Invoking the Constitution to enjoin the laws of a state requires more than ‘slight implication and vague conjecture',” wrote US Circuit Judge Bobby Shepherd. “At a minimum, it requires adequate information and correct application of the relevant standard.”

Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Show all 35 1 /35 Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures London Women's rights demonstrators hold placards and shout slogans during the Time's Up rally at Richmond Terrace, opposite Downing Street in London. Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures London The Time's Up initiative was launched at the start of January 2018 as a response to the #MeToo movement and the Harvey Weinstein scandal. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Berlin Women's March in Berlin. EPA Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures London The Time's Up Women's March marks the one year anniversary of the first Women's March in London and in 2018 it is inspired by the Time's Up movement against sexual abuse. Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Paris Women hold a banner reading "still feminist" with the Eiffel tower in background on the Trocadero esplanade in Paris. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures London Protesters hold up placards at the Women's March in central London. Rex Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Paris A demonstator hold signs on the Trocadero esplanade in Paris during a women's march organised as part of global protests. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures London Chanting Times Up in the cold rain - On the anniversary of the Women's March on London. Rex Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York Thousands of people gather holding protest signs on Central Park West. EPA Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York Demonstrators take part in the Women's March in Manhattan Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Chicago A woman holds a sign during the Second Annual Womens March in Chicago AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People gather near Central Park before the beginning of the Women's March in New York Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Washington Supporters gather during the Women's March in Washington AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York The crowd lines up near Central Park Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Chicago Demostrators attend the Second Annual Womens March in Chicago AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York Thousands hold signs and rally while attending the Women’s March in New York Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People gather near Central Park before the beginning of the Women's March in New York Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Washington People participate in the second annual Women's March in Washington Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People hold signs up during the women's march Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Philadelphia Oscar Janicki, 6, participates in the Second Annual Women's March in Philadelphia Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Philadelphia Crowds gather to participate in the Second Annual Women's March in Philadelphia Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Washington People participate in the second annual Women's March in Washington Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York Women pose as they attend the second annual National Womens March in New York City AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Washington People participate in the second annual Women's March in Washington Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People gather prior to the second annual National Womens March in New York City AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People take part in the Women's March in Manhattan Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People gather the second annual National Womens March AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Washington People participate in the Second Annual Women's March in Washington Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Rome A woman holds a banner reading "Womwn united will never be defeated" during Rome Resists demonstration part of the Women's March in downtown. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Rome Italian actress Asia Argento (3rdL) attends the Rome Resists demonstration part of the Women's March in downtown Rome. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Rome The Women's March Rome, designed to show solidarity for the protection of civil and social rights, women's rights and the environment included Italian actress Asia Argento, one of the first women to accuse US film producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Zurich A US citizen holds a poster on the anniversary of the inauguration of President Trump apologising to the world on behalf of her country, in Zurich, Switzerland. A year after millions of people took to the streets across the US and countries around the world, women's marches are being held in lots of cities this weekend. 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The Missouri Department of Health and Human Service said it would “immediately” begin enforcing the requirements at abortion facilities, and Planned Parenthood said its Missouri clinics could see the impacts within weeks. The group will have to suspend abortion services in the city of Columbia, and will delay plans to expand into Joplin and Springfield, according to the Kansas City Star.

The decision also attracted national attention, coming on the heels of Senate confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh, Mr Trump’s latest pick for the Supreme Court. The nominee is widely seen as pro-life, and could tip the balance of the Court against Roe v Wade – the landmark ruling that made abortion legal across the country.

Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh delivers opening statement

If a law like Missouri’s made its way to a pro-life Court, it could open the door for states across the country to pass similarly restrictive legislation, explained Heather Shumaker of the National Women's Law Centre. In some cases, the attorney said, these challenges could put the entire Roe ruling in jeopardy.

“This is exactly why we’re working so hard to oppose Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court right now: because poor interpretations of the law in court lead to real women facing unnecessary and unfair hurdles to getting the care they deserve,” said Alison Dreith, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri, in a statement.