The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed all challenges to the Texas Heartbeat Act’s private enforcement provision.
Texas’s law bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is usually around six weeks of gestation. The law drew legal scrutiny in part due to a novel enforcement mechanism by which private citizens may sue anyone for assisting a woman in getting an abortion, including medical professionals.
The court ruling struck down “all challenges to the private enforcement provisions,” according to the ruling, obtained by Fox News.
The bill was signed into law in May.
In a tweet, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott praised Tuesday’s ruling and the “the pro-life law that is saving babies every day.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also celebrated the court’s decision.
“Very proud of my team for bringing win after win for the unborn in Texas! The Texas Heartbeat Act is one of the greatest pro-life laws in the nation, and I’m glad to defend it,” he wrote. “Tens of thousands of babies have been saved in Texas because of SB 8 and our victories in court!”
On Monday, the Texas Equal Access Fund, which raises funds for those seeking the procedure simply tweeted: “There’s nothing wrong with abortion.”
Since taking effect, abortions have plummeted in Texas, one of several states dominated by conservatives that have past similar restrictions on abortions.
Reporting from Just the News and FOX News.
