Paxton issued an Friday saying the state鈥檚 abortion bans in place before Roe v. Wade are enforceable now that the landmark Supreme Court decision has been overturned.
Multiple Texas abortion providers in Harris County District Court on Monday afternoon. In the lawsuit, they argue that any pre-Roe ban on abortion in Texas died when the Roe decision made such bans unconstitutional in 1973.
鈥淲e're hoping that our legal team can prove that and at least buy a reprieve for at least another 30 to 55 days, possibly, for us to continue to see patients," said Marva Sadler with Whole Woman鈥檚 Health, one of the providers suing Paxton.
The U.S. Supreme Court threw out nearly 50 years of legal precedent on Friday when it knocked down Roe v. Wade, the case that gave federal protection to abortion rights.
Texas has a 鈥渢rigger law鈥� in place that will ban abortions 30 days after the court issued its judgment, but Paxton鈥檚 advisory halted abortions in the state right away.
The legal confusion surrounding the enforcement of abortion bans is also affecting organizations that help people pay for abortions.
in Central Texas and the in North Texas have stopped giving out funding while they figure out Both organizations say they are trying to protect their employees and volunteers from criminal prosecution.
鈥淲e are working diligently to get clarity on what services and information sharing we can safely resume and when,鈥� said Texas Equal Access Fund Executive Director Kamyon Conner .
Whole Woman鈥檚 Health has paused abortions at its clinics in Fort Worth, McKinney, Austin and McAllen, but it is still operating the , Sadler said.
That program helps pay for out-of-state travel to another Whole Woman鈥檚 Health clinic that is located in an abortion haven state.
Travel is still not a solution for everyone, Sadler said.
"Traveling outside of your state to receive care is not going to be an option for many women, and many women will be forced into being a parent,鈥� she said.
The Wayfinder Program has helped more than 85 people get an abortion out of state, Sadler said. The program began after the Texas state legislature last year.
Got a tip? Email Miranda Suarez at msuarez@kera.org. You can follow Miranda on Twitter @MirandaRSuarez.
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