FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS TEXAS ABORTION LAW

WASHINGTON A federal judge temporarily blocked a neartotal ban on abortion in Texas, following a challenge from President Joe Biden’s administration.

The action by U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman in Austin on Wednesday prevents the state from enforcing the Republican-backed law, which prohibits women from obtaining an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, while litigation over its legality continues.

“This Court will not sanction one more day of this offensive deprivation of such an important right,” Pitman said.

The ink was barely dry on Pitman’s order before Texas notified the court it intends to appeal to the conservative-leaning Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

“Tonight’s ruling is an important step forward toward restoring the constitutional rights of women across the state of Texas,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. “The fight has only just begun, both in Texas and in many states across this country where women’s rights are currently under attack.”