Texas Supreme Court to Review State’s Abortion Ban Case on Tuesday
The Texas Supreme Court is set to hear a case on Tuesday that challenges the state’s abortion restrictions. This case comes after Attorney General Ken Paxton appealed a decision made by State District Court Judge Jessica Mangrum of Austin, who granted exemptions to the abortion ban. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of Paxton’s appeal, these bans will remain in place, severely limiting abortions and access in Texas.
The lawsuit has been filed by twenty women who argue that the near-total ban on abortions in Texas puts their lives at risk when they experience pregnancy complications. Two doctors are also part of the lawsuit. One of the women, Kimberly Manzano, had to travel to New Mexico to have an abortion due to the ban. She shared her personal experience, stating that her health was in jeopardy and her baby had no chance of survival. Manzano also mentioned that her opinion on abortion changed as a result of her experience.
The Center for Reproductive Rights is representing the twenty women and two OBGYNs in the lawsuit. According to attorney Nick Kabat, there have been numerous cases of women being denied abortions in medical emergencies in Texas. The lawsuit was filed in March, but Kabat highlights that the issue goes back to September 2021. Senate Bill 8, passed by the Texas Legislature, prohibits abortions once cardiac activity is detected in an embryo.
Kabat shared some of the horror stories his patients have faced, including being told they would have to fly out of state or wait until they were on their deathbed with serious infections. The case will now be heard by the Texas Supreme Court, which will determine the constitutionality of the injunction ruling on the bans. Former Travis County District Court Judge Charlie Baird believes that the exemptions granted by Judge Mangrum were valid, as the issue at hand involves a fundamental right to medical care.
The hearing on Tuesday will only decide whether the injunction can stand while the case continues in the Travis County courts. The outcome of the Supreme Court’s ruling will have a significant impact on the future of abortion access in Texas. If Paxton’s appeal is successful, the bans will remain in place, severely limiting the availability of abortions in the state. The ongoing lawsuit and the voices of the women and medical professionals involved could play a pivotal role in shaping the court’s decision.
Overall, the Texas Supreme Court’s upcoming hearing on the abortion restrictions case has drawn attention to the rights of women seeking abortions in the state. The complexity of the legal arguments, combined with the personal stories of those affected, adds depth and urgency to the debate surrounding abortion access in Texas.
