Texas Supreme Court opposes emergency abortion

2023-12-09 10:13:33

The mother’s life and fertility are in danger. But the Texas Supreme Court still barred her from benefiting from an emergency abortion on Friday. Attorney General Ken Paxton had appealed to the Texas Supreme Court to suspend a court decision rendered Thursday, authorizing Kate Cox, 31, to terminate her very risky pregnancy.

A rare decision in this state which prohibits abortion with very rare exceptions, one of the strictest laws in this area in the United States. “Without considering the merits, the Court administratively suspends the decision of the district court” which allowed Kate Cox, 31, to have an abortion, described the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) which represents Kate Cox in court. The CRR released a copy of the court decision.

“Urgent medical care”

The body indicated that Kate Cox’s application would remain before the Court for consideration. “While we remain hopeful that the Court will ultimately reject the State’s request and that it will do so quickly,” said Molly Duane, CRR’s lead attorney, who fears that the postponed court decision will be synonymous with refusal.

“This is urgent medical care. Kate is already 20 weeks pregnant. That’s the reason people shouldn’t beg [d’obtenir] medical care in court,” she said. “Texas law prohibits voluntary abortions,” emphasized Attorney General Ken Paxton, affirming that the judge had “abused her power” without “any evidence” while “the Texas medical expert estimated that Kate Cox did not fulfill not the necessary conditions to benefit from the medical exception.

A judge accused of being “activist”

In his petition, Ken Paxton, an ultraconservative Republican, called on the Texas Supreme Court to “suspend” this decision. Kate Cox had confirmation last week that her fetus had trisomy 18, a chromosomal anomaly associated with serious malformations. During the emergency hearing Thursday, Judge Maya Guerra Gamble granted her the opportunity to have an abortion.

In a press release, accompanied by a letter addressed to Texan hospitals, Ken Paxton had already warned Thursday against “the potential long-term implications” if these establishments authorized abortion. Calling the judge “activist”, he said her ruling in favor of the plaintiff would not protect these hospitals, “nor any other person, from being held civilly and criminally liable for violations of Texas laws on abortion.”