Judge schedules Oct. 1 hearing on Justice Department’s request to suspend Texas abortion law

A federal judge has scheduled an Oct. 1 hearing to consider the Justice Department’s request to temporarily block a recently enacted Texas law that effectively bans abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, the Texas Tribune reported.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court refused to block the Texas abortion law, which prohibits the medical procedure after the detection of a “fetal heartbeat,” which can often occur before a woman does not know she is pregnant.

The law is unique in that it allows individuals to take legal action against those suspected of having carried out or assisted a woman undergoing the procedure. These people can receive $ 10,000 for each time they successfully sue.

Late Tuesday evening, the Justice Department tabled an emergency motion to prevent law enforcement in the state, arguing that it prevented “women from exercising their constitutional rights.”

Rather than act on the Biden administration’s request to freeze the law, U.S. District Judge Robert L. Pitman will instead hear arguments before rendering a ruling at the state’s request, the Tribune reported.

Texas has until September 29 to oppose the Justice Department’s request, and then the department can respond by October 1.

The decision to hear the arguments means the law will be in effect for at least a month – and will remain in effect at least until the judge renders his ruling on the DOJ’s request.

In response to questions from reporters last week, Gov. Greg AbbottGreg Abbott COVID-19 hospitalizations begin to level off in Dallas area, official says, governors gear up for 2022 after year in the spotlight DOJ calls on judge to prevent Texas from passing law on abortion PLUS (R), who signed the law in May, defended the legislation, saying rape victims were covered by the law and that Texas intended to eliminate rapists from the state. Rape victims could have an abortion within six weeks of pregnancy under the law.

“Let’s be clear: rape is a crime,” Abbott said, according to KXAN. “And Texas will work around the clock to make sure we take all the rapists off the streets of Texas by aggressively getting out and stopping them and chasing them and getting them off the streets.”

The Hill has contacted the Justice Department and Abbott’s office for comment.