abortion providers in texas have been trying to get the law halted before it goes into effect. And so what the Supreme Court said last night was that they were not willing to do that. So they voted 54 to deny an emergency appeal from abortion providers and others who wanted to block enforcement of the law. The law went into effect Wednesday. What it does is prohibit abortions once medical professionals can detect cardiac activity and that is usually around six weeks of pregnancy before many women know that they are actually pregnant. This is the strictest law against abortion rights in the United States. Since the Supreme Court's Landmark Roe vs Wade Decision in 1973, It's also part of a broader push by Republicans nationwide to impose new restrictions on abortion. At least 12 other states have enacted bans early in pregnancy, but all of those laws have been blocked from going into it clinics have said that this law will rule out 85% of abortions in texas um and forced many clinics to close. Already abortion clinics beyond the texas border are feeling the impact. My colleague talked to one clinic in Oklahoma city where there were 80 appointments scheduled over the past two days and that's more than double the typical number of patients abortion providers said that they are devastated by it. They vowed to continue fighting. Meanwhile, anti abortion groups and the texas lawmakers who passed this law are cheering what the court did and hoping that they get more positive rulings from this more conservative court. So the Supreme Court does have other abortion cases to consider. It will be considering one. As soon as this fall, we'll have to see what the Supreme Court decides with this more conservative makeup and whether it does, decides eventually to overturn roe versus wade.
Judge shields Texas abortion clinics from lawsuits by anti-abortion group
Updated: 10:12 PM EDT Sep 3, 2021
A state judge has shielded, for now, Texas abortion clinics from lawsuits by an anti-abortion group under a new state abortion law in a narrow ruling handed down Friday.The temporary restraining order Friday by state District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble in Austin in response to the Planned Parenthood request does not interfere with the provision. However, it shields clinics from whistleblower lawsuits by the nonprofit group Texas Right to Life, its legislative director and 100 unidentified individuals.A hearing on a preliminary injunction request was set for Sept. 13.The law, which took effect Wednesday, allows anyone anywhere to sue anyone connected to an abortion in which cardiac activity was detected in the embryo — as early as six weeks into a pregnancy before most women even realize they are pregnant.In a petition filed late Thursday, Planned Parenthood said about 85% to 90% of people who obtain abortions in Texas are at least six weeks into pregnancy.The order "offers protection to the brave health care providers and staff at Planned Parenthood health centers throughout Texas, who have continued to offer care as best they can within the law while facing surveillance, harassment, and threats from vigilantes eager to stop them," said Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Helene Krasnoff in a statement.However, the order will not deter Texas Right to Life's efforts, said Elizabeth Graham, the group's vice president. In a statement, the group said: "We expect an impartial court will dismiss Planned Parenthood's lawsuit. Until then, we will continue our diligent efforts to ensure the abortion industry fully follows" the new law.
A state judge has shielded, for now, Texas abortion clinics from lawsuits by an anti-abortion group under a new state abortion law in a narrow ruling handed down Friday.
The temporary restraining order Friday by state District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble in Austin in response to the Planned Parenthood request does not interfere with the provision. However, it shields clinics from whistleblower lawsuits by the nonprofit group Texas Right to Life, its legislative director and 100 unidentified individuals.
A hearing on a preliminary injunction request was set for Sept. 13.
The law, which took effect Wednesday, allows anyone anywhere to sue anyone connected to an abortion in which cardiac activity was detected in the embryo — as early as six weeks into a pregnancy before most women even realize they are pregnant.
In a petition filed late Thursday, Planned Parenthood said about 85% to 90% of people who obtain abortions in Texas are at least six weeks into pregnancy.
The order "offers protection to the brave health care providers and staff at Planned Parenthood health centers throughout Texas, who have continued to offer care as best they can within the law while facing surveillance, harassment, and threats from vigilantes eager to stop them," said Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Helene Krasnoff in a statement.
However, the order will not deter Texas Right to Life's efforts, said Elizabeth Graham, the group's vice president. In a statement, the group said: "We expect an impartial court will dismiss Planned Parenthood's lawsuit. Until then, we will continue our diligent efforts to ensure the abortion industry fully follows" the new law.
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