Texas judge issues injunction against anti-abortion group over new law enforcement

The injunction, issued by Judge Karin Crump of the Travis County Court, applies to anyone affiliated with the group and prevents them from filing a lawsuit against Planned Parenthood for any potential violation of SB8, the law that effectively prohibits most of abortions in Texas. The law gives individuals the power to enforce it.

This ordinance only applies to Texas Right to Life and is part of a larger – and piecemeal – approach by abortion rights advocates to try to mitigate the effect of the law. Other short-term temporary injunctions are in place against other abortion advocates, and more permanent injunctions are sought in these cases.

But the impact of the Texas law, which the Supreme Court cleared earlier this month, has already been felt, as state abortion clinics have largely stopped performing abortions for pregnant women. more than six weeks for fear of legal action from private parties.

The injunction against Texas Right to Life is effective immediately and replaces a temporary restraining order that was issued earlier this month. It will remain in force at least until April 2022, when a trial is scheduled on the merits of the case.

In a court hearing Monday, Julie Murray, lawyer for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, told the judge that the organization “is currently complying with SB8 precisely because of the overwhelming threats of litigation” and that temporary injunction “will not restore abortion services … but it will prevent and reduce exposure to litigation and constitutional harm that [Planned Parenthood] will experiment. “

The parties spent nearly two hours agreeing on the terms of the injunction.

Last week, the Department of Justice sued the state of Texas in another attempt to block the law.