A federal judge on Wednesday granted the Justice Department's request to temporarily halt the enforcement of a recently passed Texas law that prohibits nearly all abortions in the state while the legal battle over the statute proceeds through the federal courts. The law was recently passed by the state legislature.
The order by U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman is the first legal blow dealt to the Texas legislation known as Senate Bill 8, which has so far withstood a slew of early legal challenges before being struck down.
In the weeks following the implementation of the restrictions, abortion providers in Texas have stated that the impact has been "just what we anticipated."
Pitman sided with the Biden administration in a 113-page ruling. The Biden administration had sued to block the implementation of a law that has altered the landscape of the abortion battle and fueled the national debate over whether abortion will continue to be legal across the country.
It was signed into law by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in May, and it outlaws abortions after cardiac activity has been found, which is normally around six weeks after conception, and often before a woman is even aware she is pregnant.
Pitman, who was appointed to the bench by former President Barack Obama, stated in his opinion that "women have been wrongfully prohibited from taking control over their lives in ways that are guaranteed by the Constitution," since the passage of Senate Bill 8.
Pitman used harsh language to criticize the bill, which was drafted with the goal of making it more difficult to challenge in court by delegating enforcement to private individuals. Private individuals can sue anyone who performs abortions, as well as anyone who "aids and abets" them.
However, even with the statute on hold, abortion services in Texas may not be resumed immediately since doctors continue to be concerned about being sued if a more permanent legal ruling is not reached.
Planned Parenthood expressed optimism that the order will allow facilities to begin providing abortion services as soon as feasible following the ruling.
Planned Parenthood reports that the number of patients from Texas who came to its facilities in the state dropped by about 80% in the two weeks following the law's implementation, according to the organization.
