Texas Supreme Court allows 6-week abortion ban to come into effect

The Supreme Court on Wednesday morning let a Texas state law come into effect that allows private citizens to bring legal action to uphold the ban on the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy.

The court’s decision not to act on an emergency petition from Texas abortion clinics comes as judges prepare to more broadly reconsider the abortion right it established nearly 50 years. In May, judges agreed to review Mississippi’s ban on proceedings after 15 weeks of pregnancy – a direct challenge to Roe vs. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Those arguments are expected later this year, with a decision in 2022.

Beyond banning abortion as early as six weeks pregnant, Texas law, signed in May, would delegate citizens to bring civil lawsuits against abortion providers or anyone who helps facilitate the procedure after. six weeks, like a person driving a pregnant person to the clinic. Those found guilty of breaking the law should pay the person who succeeded in bringing such a lawsuit $ 10,000 – a warning from premium abortion rights advocates will encourage harassment, intimidation and abuse. self-defense.