Court Reinstates Most of Texas' Abortion Restrictions

Religion Today | Updated: Nov 01, 2013

Court Reinstates Most of Texas' Abortion Restrictions

A federal appeals court has reinstated most of Texas' new abortion standards, CBN News reports. One of the new measures requires all abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a hospital less than 30 miles away. Twelve of the 32 abortion clinics in the state are not connected to hospitals, so they will have to stop performing abortions. A federal judge ruled Monday that the new law was unconstitutional and blocked it from taking effect, but on Thursday the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the measures can take effect immediately. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot had made an emergency appeal to the conservative 5th Circuit, arguing that the law requiring doctors to have admitting privileges is a constitutional use of the legislature's authority. Abbot said in a statement Thursday that "this unanimous decision is a vindication of the careful deliberation by the Texas Legislature to craft a law to protect the health and safety of Texas women." Planned Parenthood vowed to continue its fight against the new laws.



Court Reinstates Most of Texas' Abortion Restrictions