Daily US Times: A federal judge has temporarily blocked the controversial abortion law of Texas that effectively bans women from having an abortion in the state.
US District Judge Robert Pitman accepted a request by the Biden administration to prevent any enforcement of the law in Texas while its legality is being challenged.
The abortion law was put forward and approved by Republican lawmakers in Texas.
After the judge put a temporary ban on the enforcement of the law, the White House said it is “an important step” to restoring Texas women’s constitutional rights.
In a 113-page opinion, Judge Pitman wrote that from the moment the law came into effect on 1 September, “women have been unlawfully prevented from exercising control over their lives in ways that are protected by the Constitution”.
His ruling added: “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.”
This is the first legal setback for the state of Texas since the controversial law was implemented, and state officials are expected to appeal Judge Pitman’s order.
The Biden administration took legal action after the Supreme Court declined to prevent Texas from enacting the law. The justice department filed an emergency motion to block enforcement of the abortion law, known as “Heartbeat Act”, while it pursues legal action.
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