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Texas Six-week Abortion Ban Takes Effect

Reuters

   A Texas ban on abortions after six weeksof pregnancy took effect early
   Wednesday morning after the U.S.Supreme Court did not act on an
   emergency request by abortionrights groups to block the law enabling
   the ban.

   Barring a later ruling by the court, its inaction bymidnight on the
   groups' request for an injunction will allow theban
   litigationcontinuesin the groups' lawsuit challenging
   itsconstitutionality.

   Abortion rights groups say 85%-90% of abortions in Texas areobtained
   after six weeks of pregnancy, meaning the law wouldmost likely force
   many clinics to close.

   Such a ban has never been permitted in any state since theSupreme Court
   decided Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling thatlegalized abortion
   nationwide, in 1973, they said.

   Planned Parenthood and other women's health providers,doctors, and
   clergy members challenged the law in federal courtin Austin in July,
   contending it violated the constitutionalright to an abortion.

   The law, signed on May 19, is unusual in that it givesprivate citizens
   the power to enforce it by enabling them to sueabortion providers and
   anyone who "aids or abets" an abortionafter six weeks. Citizens who win
   such lawsuits would beentitled to at least $10,000.

   Abortion providers say the law could lead to hundreds ofcostly lawsuits
   that would be logistically difficult to defend.

   In a legal filing, Texas officials told the justices toreject the
   abortion providers' request, saying that the law "maynever be enforced
   against them by anyone."

   A court could still put the ban on hold, and no court hasyet ruled on
   its constitutionality, Stephen Vladeck, a professorat the University of
   Texas at Austin School of Law, said in atweet.

   "Despite what some will say, this isn't the 'end' of Roe,"hesaid.

   Texas is among of dozen mostly Republican-led states thathave enacted
   "heartbeat" abortion bans, which outlaw theprocedure once the rhythmic
   contracting of fetal cardiac tissuecan be detected, often at six weeks
   - sometimes before a womanrealizes she is pregnant.

   Courts have blocked such bans.The [1]state of Mississippi has askedthe
   Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade in a major case thejustices
   agreed to hear over a 2018 law banning abortion after15 weeks.

   The justices will hear arguments in their next term, whichbegins in
   October, with a ruling due by the end of June 2022.

   The Texas challenge seeks to prevent judges, county clerksand other
   state entities from enforcing the law.

   A federal judge rejected a bid to dismiss the case,prompting an
   immediate appeal tothe NewOrleans,Louisiana-based 5th U.S. Circuit
   Court of Appeals, which haltedfurther proceedings.

   On Sunday, the 5th Circuit denied a request by the abortionproviders to
   block the law pending the appeal.

References

   1. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/mississippi-asks-us-supreme-court-overturn-abortion-rights-landmark-2021-07-22

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