© 2024 Texas Public Radio
Real. Reliable. Texas Public Radio.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Ruling Leaves Closed Abortion Clinics In Legal Limbo

Ryan E. Poppe
/
TPR News

One line in the federal district judge’s ruling on the constitutionality of the Texas abortion law has attorneys and some state agencies asking the question: Will all abortion clinics be allowed to reopen while the case awaits an appeal before the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans?

That’s the question that abortion-rights attorneys and those with the Texas attorney general’s office are hoping to have answered by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court during an injunction hearing on Sept. 12. 

The confusion stems from the last few lines of Federal District Judge Lee Yeakel’s ruling that struck down not only the law’s ambulatory surgical center requirement, but also its hospital admitting privileges requirement for clinics statewide. 

Esha Bhandari is an attorney with the Center for Reproductive Rights who represents the clinics involved in the lawsuit:

“Judge Yeakel weighed the impact of the two provisions and determined that when they are seen in conjunction they operate as an undue burden on women throughout the state and not just the two plaintiff clinics in El Paso and McAllen,” Bhandari said.

Carrie Williams is with the Department of State Health Services, one of the groups that regulates clinics that perform abortions, and said for now they will continue routine inspections.

"This will include still checking for admitting privileges, but whether those issues get cited ultimately as violations is something we will have to evaluate on a case-by-case basis given the recent ruling and the ongoing legal work that’s happening," Williams said.

In the meantime, clinics that were open before the judge’s ruling will be allowed to remain open. If the the 5th Circuit denies the state’s request for a temporary injunction, all clinics in the state could feasibly reopen while they await the full appeal.

Ryan started his radio career in 2002 working for Austin’s News Radio KLBJ-AM as a show producer for the station's organic gardening shows. This slowly evolved into a role as the morning show producer and later as the group’s executive producer.