The Biden Justice Department has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block Texas' near-total ban on abortion while its legal challenge to the Republican-backed law winds through the courts.
In a petition filed Monday, Acting Solicitor General Brian H. Fletcher argues that unless the high court blocks the law until its constitutionality can be determined, Texas is doing "irreparable injury" to thousands of women being denied access to abortion.
The request is the second challenge to the law to reach the Supreme Court on an emergency appeal. On a 5-4 vote, the court declined to hear the first one in early September. The majority wrote that the case presented "complex and novel" questions about whether the justices had authority to rule on it.
The Supreme Court appears ready to move quickly with the latest challenge. It ordered Texas to file its response by noon Thursday.
The Justice Department filing was widely anticipated. Last week, a spokesman for the department said its lawyers expected to issue such a request but didn't give a timetable.
Stay on top of San Antonio news and views. Sign up for our Weekly Headlines Newsletter.
Justice Department asks U.S. Supreme Court to block enforcement of Texas' abortion ban
KEEP SA CURRENT!
Since 1986, the SA Current has served as the free, independent voice of San Antonio, and we want to keep it that way.
Becoming an SA Current Supporter for as little as $5 a month allows us to continue offering readers access to our coverage of local news, food, nightlife, events, and culture with no paywalls.
Scroll to read more Texas News articles
About The Author
