Abortion: Judge Blocked Texas Anti-Rights Law | The reaction of the Biden government

Federal judge blocked this Wednesday anti-abortion law enforcement in Texas, United States. The law prohibits almost all terminations of pregnancy in the southern state.

Judge Robert Pitman issued a 113-page ruling stating that “from the time SB 8 (Texas law restricting the right to decide) came into effect, women have been unfairly deprived of control over their lives in a way that is constitutionally protected”. “This court will not allow one more day of the offensive deprivation of such an important right”says the text.

The decision also states that “people who wish to have an abortion face irreparable harm when they cannot access the practice” and are pushed to clandestine clinics where their health is not guaranteed.

Pitman ordered Texas to notify all state judges and court employees and to post the decision “on all court websites, simply telling the public that SB8 lawsuits will not be accepted in Texas courts”.

What Does Texas’ Anti-Abortion Law Look Like?

SB 8 It came into effect in September and is one of the most restrictive in the whole country: prohibits any termination of pregnancy once embryonic heart activity has been detected -which can happen at six weeks gestation, even when the pregnant person does not know they are pregnant- and allows you to sue anyone who helps someone who wants to have an abortion: from professionals involved in the exercise of the practice to those who accompany anyone who wishes to terminate their pregnancy to a clinic.

The Supreme Court of Justice -with a conservative majority thanks to the appointments made by Donald Trump at the end of his mandate- refused to stop the application of the law, but it has not yet been rendered on its constitutionality. But magistrates have agreed to review restrictive Mississippi law that could provide an opportunity to overturn Roe v. Wade, the decision that allowed the right to voluntary termination of pregnancy in the country in 1973.

Joe Biden’s administration, for its part, opposed the Texas law and the United States Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the southern state“The law is clearly unconstitutional,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a press conference.

White House praises Pitman decision

White House spokesperson, Jen Psaki, highlighted Pitman’s decision and called it “an important step in restoring the constitutional rights of women in the state of Texas”. “The fight is only just beginning, both in Texas and in many states across the country where women’s rights are under attack,” she said in a statement.

The Planned Parenthood organization also celebrated Pitman’s decision. “While this fight is far from over, we hope the court order blocking SB 8 will allow professionals who uphold the right to abortion in Texas to resume the practice as soon as possible,” Alexis said in a statement. McGill Johnson, President and CEO. of planned parenthood.