Judge temporarily blocks Texas abortion law

The abortion law is an "offensive deprivation" of women's rights.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked a new law blocking abortions in Texas. The law has banned most abortions in the country's second-biggest state since September. US District Judge Robert Pitman made the order on Wednesday, October 6th. Pitman said Senate Bill 8 denies people of their constitutional right to an abortion. He commented: “From the moment SB 8 went into effect, women have been unlawfully prevented from exercising control over their lives in ways that are protected by the Constitution." “That other courts may find a way to avoid this conclusion is theirs to decide; this Court will not sanction one more day of this offensive deprivation of such an important right," Judge Pitman added. Pausing the law may not resume services in Texas because doctors fear they will be sued if they carry out abortions. Republican Governor Greg Abbott signed the law in May. The law states that abortions cannot take place once the cardiac activity is detected, which is usually around week 6 of pregnancy. The biggest issue with this law is many women won't even realise they're pregnant by this stage. Planned Parenthood said there was an 80% decrease in patients since the bill was introduced. Neighbouring states have noticed an increase in women seeking abortion services. Campaigners say other women are being forced to carry their pregnancies to term because of the law. The Biden administration said the law is an "offensive deprivation" of women's rights. “A state may not ban abortions at six weeks. Texas knew this, but it wanted a six-week ban anyway, so the state resorted to an unprecedented scheme of vigilante justice that was designed to scare abortion providers and others who might help women exercise their constitutional rights,” Justice Department lawyer Brian Netter stated.