Thursday, October 31, 2013
Court reinstates most Texas’ abortion restrictions
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal appeals court has reinstated most of Texas’ new abortion restrictions.
A panel of judges at the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling this evening, three days after District Judge Lee Yeakel said one provision serves no medical purpose.
The panel says that the law requiring doctors to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital can take effect while a lawsuit moves forward.
The Texas attorney general’s office argued that the law is a constitutional use of the Legislature’s authority.
Lawyers for Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers had argued that the regulations did not protect women and would shut down a third of the abortion clinics in Texas.