Texas Supreme Court puts on hold order that granted pregnant woman’s request for abortion

The Texas Supreme Court docket on Friday agreed to pause a decrease court docket ruling that may have allowed a pregnant lady whose fetus is unlikely to outlive to get an abortion.

The ruling that “administratively stays” the decrease court docket’s order will not be the ultimate say and isn’t on the deserves, but it surely pauses the choice that cleared Kate Cox, 31, to have an abortion.

Cox, who’s about 20 weeks pregnant, realized final month that her growing fetus has trisomy 18, a uncommon chromosomal dysfunction more likely to trigger stillbirth or the dying of the child shortly after it’s born.

Texas legislation prohibits nearly all abortions with restricted exceptions. Attorneys on her behalf sought and efficiently obtained an emergency order permitting Cox to have an abortion.

“Whereas we nonetheless hope that the Court docket finally rejects the state’s request and does so rapidly, on this case we worry that justice delayed will likely be justice denied,” Molly Duane, senior workers lawyer on the Heart for Reproductive Rights, which is representing Cox, stated in a press release.

State District Decide Maya Guerra Gamble on Thursday granted the order for Cox, citing dangers of Cox’s future fertility ought to she be pressured to ship the kid.

Texas Legal professional Normal Ken Paxton, a Republican, then requested the Texas Supreme Court docket to subject an emergency keep to dam the decide’s order.

Duane, the lawyer with the Heart for Reproductive Rights, has argued that Cox’s life and future fertility are in danger.

“In line with her physician, the medical care that she wants is an abortion,” Duane stated at a Thursday listening to.

The Heart stated after Friday’s Supreme Court docket ruling that Cox was knowledgeable final week that her fetus “has no likelihood of survival.”

“Because of Kate’s medical historical past, her OB-GYNs warned her that persevering with to hold the being pregnant may jeopardize her well being and future fertility,” it stated.

Paxton’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to an emailed request for remark late Friday.

Paxton argued in court docket paperwork in search of to have the decide’s order vacated totally that Cox doesn’t meet the medical-emergency exemption to the state legislation limiting abortions.

He and his workplace additionally argued that Texas legislation doesn’t allow abortions solely primarily based on the truth that a fetus is unlikely to outlive exterior the womb.