Federal Appeals Court Allows Texas Abortion Law To Stay In Effect
In the latest legal move in the dispute over Texas' ban on most abortions, the Justice Department's efforts to suspend the law were denied in a 2-1 ruling by a 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel. The case is expected to be appealed to the Supreme Court.
Austin American-Statesman:
Abortion Law Stands After Appeals Court Sides With Texas
A Texas law banning most abortions is still in effect, after a federal appeals court sided with Texas officials a second time and again suspended a lower court ruling that had blocked the law. A three judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 late Thursday, refusing a request from the U.S. Department of Justice to allow a lower court ruling blocking enforcement of the Texas law to stand. The law prohibits abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The federal government is expected to appeal Thursday's ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, which previously allowed the law to go into effect by declining to intervene at the request of Texas abortion providers. (Mekelburg, 10/14)
The Texas Tribune:
Texas’ Near-Total Abortion Ban Will Remain In Effect, Appeals Court Says
The three justices of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — considered perhaps the most conservative appellate court in the nation — also agreed to hear oral arguments in the underlying lawsuit the Biden administration filed against Texas over the law. A U.S. district court previously blocked enforcement of the law for two days before the 5th Circuit initially froze the order. The panel of 5th Circuit justices agreed in a 2-1 decision Thursday to let the law remain in effect until it considers the U.S. Department of Justice’s challenge. Judge Carl Stewart dissented. (Oxner, 10/14)
Also —
AP:
Texas Abortion Law Shutting Down Court Avenue For Teens
Veronika Granado anxiously stood before the judge knowing that if she said something wrong, things could end badly for her. But the 17-year-old hadn’t committed a crime. She had not filed a lawsuit. Granado was in a Texas court that day to ask permission to get an abortion. She was among thousands of teens burdened with additional hurdles to legal abortion care, especially if they are of color or live in states where abortion access is already severely limited. (Galvan and Whitehurst, 10/15)
AP:
Abortion Supporters Ask Oklahoma Court To Put 3 Laws On Hold
Reproductive rights supporters have filed an appeal asking the Oklahoma Supreme Court to put three anti-abortion laws on hold, including restrictions on medication-induced abortions. The appeal Wednesday comes after District Judge Cindy Truong said she would allow the laws to take effect Nov. 1, pending the outcome of a legal challenge, the Tulsa World reported. (10/14)
