Justice Department sues Texas over anti-abortion law

The Justice Department sought to put a quick stop to a restrictive anti-abortion law in Texas after the Supreme Court refused to do so, seeking an emergency injunction to block it long enough for a court to rule it unconstitutional.

The complaint, filed Thursday in federal court in Austin, Texas, seeks an immediate and permanent injunction against the law, which bars almost all abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy.

“The act is clearly unconstitutional under longstanding Supreme Court precedent,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a news conference.