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Pro-Life Win: Federal Court Upholds Temporary Ban on Abortions as 'Not Medically Necessary'

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Texas pro-lifers scored a massive victory on Tuesday.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order March 22 to halt all “surgeries and procedures that are not medically necessary,” including abortions.

After a district court blocked enforcement of the order, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary stay on the ruling, allowing the ban to go into effect.

The district court had ruled that the “attorney general’s interpretation of the Executive Order prevents Texas women from exercising what the Supreme Court has declared is their fundamental constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy before a fetus is viable.”

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed an appeal, and a panel of three appellate judges overturned the district court’s decision.

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“IT IS ORDERED that the district court’s order of March 30, 2020 (Dkt. No. 40) is TEMPORARILY STAYED until further order of this court to allow this court sufficient time to consider petitioners’ emergency motion for stay and petition for writ of mandamus,” the federal judges said in their ruling.

Abbott’s ban on nonessential medical procedures is meant to ensure that enough hospital resources remain available for the inevitable influx of COVID-19 patients.

Paxton had criticized abortion providers for failing to abide by the governor’s order in a tweet prior to the ruling.

Are abortions 'medically necessary'?

“Abortion providers who refuse to follow state law are demonstrating a clear disregard for Texans suffering from this medical crisis,” he wrote.

“For years, abortion has been touted as a ‘choice’ by the same groups now attempting to claim it is an essential procedure.”

Upon learning of the federal court’s ruling, Paxton added a triumphant declaration to his tweet.

“UPDATE: Victory at 5th Circuit – Abortion ruling stayed!” Paxton wrote.

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While the order is upheld for now, Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers and advocates are working hard to overturn it.

“Abortion care is time-sensitive and essential health care that has a profound impact on a person’s health and life, which is why it is protected as a constitutional right,” Nancy Northup, president and chief executive officer of the Center for Reproductive Rights, told CBS News.

If they are successful, ending the lives of unborn children and saving the lives of COVID-19 patients will again be treated as equally “essential.”

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Michael wrote for a number of entertainment news outlets before joining The Western Journal in 2020 as a staff reporter. He now manages the writing and reporting teams, overseeing the production of commentary, news and original reporting content.
Michael Austin graduated from Iowa State University in 2019. During his time in college, Michael volunteered as a social media influencer for both PragerU and Live Action. After graduation, he went on to work as a freelance journalist for various entertainment news sites before joining The Western Journal in 2020 as a staff reporter.

Since then, Michael has been promoted to the role of Manager of Writing and Reporting. His responsibilities now include managing and directing the production of commentary, news and original reporting content.
Birthplace
Ames, Iowa
Nationality
American
Education
Iowa State University
Topics of Expertise
Culture, Faith, Politics, Education, Entertainment




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