UPDATE: Abortion Businesses Thwarted Again; SCOTUS Sends Case Opposing Texas Heartbeat Law Case to Appeals Court and Not to Judge Who Blocked the Law Before
UPDATE: Abortion Businesses Thwarted Again; SCOTUS Sends Case Opposing Texas Heartbeat Law Case to Appeals Court and Not to Judge Who Blocked the Law Before
Austin, TX— Following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the Texas Heartbeat Law (S.B. 8), on December 16th, the Supreme Court released an order returning the Texas Heartbeat Law case to the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals instead of to U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman who blocked the law before, as the abortion businesses requested. The Supreme Court did, however, grant part of the abortion businesses’ request by returning the case immediately instead of waiting the standard 25 days. The passage and prevailing of the Texas Heartbeat Law continues to make history and remain the one of the most important national policies of the year. This court outcome means that nothing will get in the way of the Texas Heartbeat Law from remaining in effect until the end of this year. The 2021 year will end with the Texas Heartbeat Law in full effect.
Jonathan Saenz, President and Attorney for Texas Values released the following statement:
“The Texas Heartbeat Law keeps winning and saving lives! The Supreme Court rejected the abortion lobby’s request to immediately send the case to an activist judge, and the beat of life goes on. Over 16,000 babies are alive today because the Texas Heartbeat Law went into effect stayed in effect. More information can be found can be found at texasheartbeatlaw.com.”
The Supreme Court recently heard combined oral arguments on two separate cases regarding the Texas Heartbeat Law. The Supreme Court released an opinion stating that the Department of Justice has no authority to sue the state of Texas, allowing the Heartbeat Law to remain in effect The Supreme Court released an opinion saying that state court judges and clerks cannot be restricted from hearing cases to enforce the Texas Heartbeat Law, and that Attorney General Paxton cannot be sued by abortionists on this matter. The Court did not dismiss the abortionists’ case, which allows them to continue their challenge in lower courts, but the Supreme Court made no ruling about the constitutionality of the Texas Heartbeat law, thereby allowing the Texas Heartbeat law to remain effect and fully enforceable to save the lives of babies.
Despite the legal attacks, the Texas Heartbeat Law has already saved over 16,000 lives since it went into effect on September 1, 2021. The Law remained in effect during the litigation process even at the Supreme Court and has continued to remain in effect. The Texas Heartbeat Law requires abortionists to check for a baby’s heartbeat and inform the mother if the presence of a heartbeat is detected, which can be as early as 5 weeks gestation.
Texas Values was the leading faith and family organization in Texas which led in every phase of the passage of the Texas Heartbeat law.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the Texas Heartbeat Law on November 1, 2021 which may be accessed here: Whole Woman’s Health v Jackson and United States v. Texas. The December 10, 2021 Supreme Court ruling may be accessed here. For more information about the Texas Heartbeat Law, please visit www.texasheartbeatlaw.com.
The Texas Heartbeat Law continues to prevail, making it one of the most important laws put into effect this year. Texas Values team members are available for comment this and next week on wrap-up, highlight stories of the year. To set up an interview, please contact [email protected].
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About Texas Values
Texas Values is the largest statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. More information is available at txvalues.org.