5th Circuit Court of Appeals Temporarily Upholds Texas Abortion Halt

United State’s Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will allow the state of Texas’ current abortion halt to remain in place until an “injunction hearing for April 13,” when the legality of the abortion halt will be further argued.

On March 22, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order ordering the postponement of “surgeries and procedures that are not medically necessary to correct a serious medical condition or to preserve the life of a patient”. The order was said to ensure that hospitals and their staff have access to as much personal protective equipment and hospital beds as possible during the Covid-19 emergency.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stated Governor Abbott’s order “applies to all health care facilities and professionals” “including abortion”. Attorney General Paxton argued “abortion providers are effectively [withholding] desperately needed medical supplies for those combating the Coronavirus across the state.”

Following the order, “abortion providers obtained a temporary restraining order from a U.S. District Court in Austin”, which allowed for abortions to proceed. Now, after today’s ruling, the abortion halt will proceed until at least April 13.