A federal judge is temporarily blocking Texas' new abortion law. The ban, which would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, is one of the strictest such laws in the U.S. A heartbeat can be detected typically around six weeks into the pregnancy. It comes after the Supreme Court refused to take up an emergency case to block the law's implementation last month.
“This injunction is a critical first step in restoring abortion rights and services in Texas. For 36 days, patients have been living in a state of panic, not knowing where or when they’d be able to get abortion care. The clinics and doctors we represent hope to resume full abortion services as soon as they are able, even though the threat of being sued retroactively will not be completely gone until SB 8 is struck down for good. The cruelty of this law is endless," said Nancy Northup, president & CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights. "While we are relieved that a court has finally blocked this unconstitutional law, today’s court order is only temporary. This is not the end. We know the state of Texas will keep defending this malicious ban.”