AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday ordered Texas to suspend the most restrictive abortion law in the U.S., calling it an “offensive deprivation“ of a constitutional right by banning most abortions in the nation’s second-most populous state since September. The order by U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman is the first legal blow to the Texas law known as Senate Bill 8, which until now had withstood a wave of early challenges. Last month, the court did not rule on the constitutionality of the Texas law in allowing it to remain in place. This year alone, nearly 600 abortion restrictions have been introduced in statehouses nationwide, with more than 90 becoming law, according to Planned Parenthood. At least one Texas abortion provider has admitted to violating the law and been sued — but not by abortion opponents.

Source: thestar October 07, 2021 01:04 UTC