BOSTON (CWNews.com) - The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court said on Thursday that a 25-foot buffer zone around abortion clinics would be constitutional if a law is passed by the state legislature.

    The state Senate had requested an opinion from the court on a proposed bill to establish the zones. Pro-abortion leaders said the zones are necessary to prevent pro-lifers from attacking clinics, workers, or people entering the building, but pro-life groups rejected the characterization that they are violent.

    Dwight Duncan of Massachusetts Citizens for Life said the bill will violate the constitutional freedom of speech and assembly and his group will challenge any such law in federal court. The zone law would be the first such law enacted by a state. Other zones around the country have been set up by judges.

    Under the law, people would be banned from a 25-foot zone around building entrances and driveways unless they were going in or out of the building, worked in the building, or were police, firefighters or other types of public officials, regardless of whether they were protesting or not.

    The US Supreme Court is currently considering the constitutionality of a Colorado law setting up "floating" buffer zones around people entering abortion clinics, and is expected to be rule by July.