A Federal appeals court on Tuesday, April 7, allowed Texas to ban most abortions, while the state maintains emergency order restricting optional operations during a pandemic coronavirus.
The decision allows the ban to remain in effect pending further legal arguments.
Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott last month ordered the hospitals to cancel the «minor» operation to free up hospital space and supplies that may be needed for patients with coronavirus and doctors.
The attorney General of Texas, Ken Paxton, said that the order will cover any abortions except those necessary to protect the health and safety of the mother.
Planned Parenthood Federation and other groups of abortion rights, then sued to remove abortion from the procedures that can be delayed.
Texas immediately filed an appeal.
Most of the judges in the court of appeal concluded that «the case threatens the society of the epidemic, the state may take emergency measures that restrict the constitutional rights, if these measures have a substantial relation to the public health crisis».
Alexis McGill Johnson, acting President of the Planned Parenthood Federation, called the appellate court decision «unfair».
«Abortion can’t wait until the pandemic is over», said McGill Johnson.
Texas prohibits most abortions after 20 weeks. Similar legal battles are now conducted in Alabama, Ohio, Oklahoma and Iowa.
Group on protection of rights to abortion pledged to continue to fight the bans.
«This is not the last word. We will take all legal measures necessary to combat the abuse of emergency powers, » said Nancy Northup, President of the Center for reproductive rights.
