Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 11, 2023 / 14:05 pm
The Texas Supreme Court paused a lower court ruling that could have allowed a woman to receive an abortion following a request from Attorney General Ken Paxton.
A Dec. 7 ruling from Travis County District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble would have temporarily restricted Paxton and other state officials from enforcing Texas abortion laws against hospitals and doctors who would have performed the abortion for the woman.
Gamble’s ruling came amid the preborn child’s diagnosis of trisomy 18. Only about 5%-10% of babies born with this condition will live past their first birthday. Her order also claims the woman’s doctor determined that she could suffer long-term health complications, such as future fertility problems, if she continues the pregnancy.
The Supreme Court’s Dec. 8 order will halt that decision, which restores the state’s ability to enforce its laws. However, it does not put an end to the litigation, noting that the ruling is “without regard to the merits” of the case and it allows the case to proceed. The litigation is scheduled for a hearing on Dec. 20 in the Travis County District Court. The hearing will determine whether a district judge grants a permanent order to restrict the state from enforcing its abortion laws in this specific case.