US judge temporarily blocks controversial Texas abortion law
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Washington: A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked a near-total ban on abortion in Texas, the toughest such law in the United States.
The suit had been brought by President Joe Biden's administration, which argues that the ban is unconstitutional.
US District Judge Robert Pitman in Austin granted the request from President Joe Biden's administration to block enforcement of the law pending further litigation. Texas can appeal.
The statute, which went into force on September 1, prohibits abortions as soon as a heartbeat is detectable, usually at around six weeks of pregnancy, before many women even know they are pregnant. There are no exceptions for cases of incest or rape.
In his 113-page ruling, Pitman said Texas officials had created an "unprecedented and aggressive scheme to deprive its citizens of a significant and well-established constitutional right."
"From the moment SB 8 went into effect, women have been unlawfully prevented from exercising control over their lives in ways that are protected by the Constitution," Pitman said, using the abbreviation for Senate Bill 8, the law's official name.
"This Court will not sanction one more day of this offensive deprivation of such an important right."
Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood, hailed the ruling, calling it "overdue."
"While this fight is far from over, we are hopeful that the court's order blocking SB 8 will allow Texas abortion providers to resume services as soon as possible," she said.
The Texas law, which thus far is the most restrictive in the country, is unique in that it empowers anyone to file a lawsuit against a person who has assisted in an abortion. They can be rewarded with $10,000 for cases that lead to prosecution, prompting charges that the law encourages Texans to act as vigilantes.
As Texas can still appeal Pitman's order, the case may end up in front of the Supreme Court.
In court arguments Friday, the US government described the ban as "a truly extraordinary law designed to outflank the federal government and to violate the constitution."
