AUSTIN – The Temporary Restraining Order (“TRO”) granted by the Travis County district judge purporting to allow an abortion to proceed will not insulate hospitals, doctors, or anyone else, from civil and criminal liability for violating Texas’ abortion laws. This includes first degree felony prosecutions, Tex. Health & Safety Code § 170A.004, and civil penalties of not less than $100,000 for each violation, Tex. Health & Safety Code §§ 170A.005, 171.207-211. And, while the TRO purports to temporarily enjoin actions brought by the OAG and TMB against Dr. Karsan and her staff, it does not enjoin actions brought by private citizens. Tex. Health & Safety Code § ¬¬171.207. Nor does it prohibit a district or county attorney from enforcing Texas’ pre-Roe abortion laws against Dr. Karsan or anyone else. The TRO will expire long before the statute of limitations for violating Texas’ abortion laws expires.
Summary: Sure, you can get an abortion now. We are still going to ruin your life, destroy your business, and force you to leave the state to ever work again.
Watch the interview the pregnant woman gave tonight. Watch all of it. She and her husband wanted to have that baby but realized the pregnancy was non-viable and risked her health. There are a lot of women in that same situation but aren’t fortunate enough to be able to afford a lawyer. No one should have to go through this kind of cruelty.
My understanding is that she in fact has means to leave to the state. She is subjecting herself to their jurisdiction to show the world the cruelty of the laws.
All I know is I am very glad this asshole is still being hounded. Don’t let him get away.
If the AG or anyone else does pursue criminal or civil penalties, it will 100% be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court, and I genuinely wonder how Comey Barrett, Kavanaugh, and Roberts would rule
Poorly?
While I strongly disagree with many of their rulings, I also don’t share your pessimism. Kavanaugh in particular has demonstrated he’s not a conservative absolutist
That may well be, but he’s still a disgrace to his title. That being said, whether or not they choose an agreeable stance, their logic will be pointless and invalid.
Depends on who paid them off last, and how much.
Oh. You meant “poorly” as in the decision was bad, not poor as in, no money,
I think they’ll uphold the restraining order and maybe strike down the most egregious anti abortion laws.
Republicans have been getting decimated in recent elections, and a lot of that has to do with abortion. If the conservatives on the Supreme Court can help them by getting that issue off the table I think they’d do it.
It just adds to their illegitimacy, but they’ll do it
She should just travel out of state and get the medical procedure she needs. At this point she’s just a pawn in a political game. Take texas out of the equation. They can’t threaten doctors or hospitals that way.
If she has the money to do it. Travel is expensive. Sounds like she’s already got two kids, too.
Texas also has a statute that would then open her and anyone who helped her do this to civil liabilities. iirc, anyone can sue her for like 10 grand. Not sure that’s been tested yet, but it’s at least not something I would want to open myself up to.
Texas is a fucked up place. I’m glad I got out when I did.
Paxton is going after the husband too
