A county judge awarded Planned Parenthood a small victory in its battle over Texas’ six-week abortion ban by granting a temporary restraining order against Texas Right to Life on Friday. Under the order, the anti-abortion rights group is banned from “instituting private-enforcement lawsuits” against the pro-abortion rights organization, as well as its doctors and staff.
The order, granted by Travis County District Court Judge Maya Guerra Gamble, prevents the anti-abortion group from enforcing a six-week abortion ban against three Planned Parenthood affiliates, and will expire on September 17.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s heartbeat bill went into effect on Wednesday after the Supreme Court declined to block it. The law allows residents of the state to sue clinics, doctors, nurses and even people who drive a woman to get the procedure for at least $10,000.
The Travis County judge found that the law “creates a probable, irreparable, and imminent injury” to Planned Parenthood while, on the other hand, Texas Right to Life would not be harmed if it was restrained from enforcing the law.
Statement from Helene Krasnoff, vice president for public policy litigation and law, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
We are relieved that the Travis County district court has acted quickly to grant this restraining order against Texas Right to Life and anyone working with them as deputized enforcers of this draconian law. This restraining order offers protection to the brave health care providers and staff at Planned Parenthood health centers throughout Texas, who have continued to offer care as best they can within the law while facing surveillance, harassment, and threats from vigilantes eager to stop them. But make no mistake: this is not enough relief for Texas. Planned Parenthood will continue fighting for the millions of Texans affected by S.B. 8., doing everything we can under the law to restore Texans’ federal constitutional right to access abortion. Axios and CBS News