6:37
- ABC News
- October 22, 2021
Supreme Court to take up Texas abortion law
SB8 will remain in effect until the high court issues its decision.
Video by Elisa Tang, Faith Bernstein
Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood, called SB8 a \"heinous and blatantly unconstitutional abortion ban that never should have been allowed to take effect—and it's devastating that it remains in place.\"
\"Every day S.B. 8 is in place is one more day of cruelty, and it cannot stand. We look forward to our patients and providers finally having their day in court on November 1, when the Supreme Court will hear the cases. And we are hopeful the Court will step in and block S.B. 8 from continuing to wreak havoc,\" she said in a statement.
The law bans physicians from providing abortions once they detect a so-called fetal heartbeat, which can be seen on an ultrasound as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.
Under SB8, private citizens -- including those who live outside of Texas -- can sue a person they \"reasonably believed\" provided an illegal abortion or assisted someone in getting it in the state, up to four years after the act. Government officials are expressly prohibited from enforcing the law.
At least one anti-abortion organization praised the court for maintaining the law while it determines whether it is constitutional.
Texas Right to Life, in a tweet, called the move a \"great victory for the Pro-Life movement.\"
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