The instruction, issued by Judge Karin Crump of Travis County Court, applies to anyone affiliated with the group and prevents them from filing a lawsuit against Planned Parenthood for any possible violation of SB8, the law that effectively prohibits most abortions in Texas. The law gives private citizens the power to enforce it.
This order applies only to the right to life in Texas and is part of a broader – and partial – approach by abortion rights advocates to try to cushion the effect of the law. There are other short-term temporary restraining orders against other abortion advocates, and in these cases more permanent court action is being sought.
But the impact of Texas law, which the Supreme Court allowed to be maintained earlier this month, has already been felt as state abortion clinics have largely stopped performing abortions for pregnant women over six weeks for fear of private party litigation.
The Texas ban on the right to life is effective immediately and replaces a temporary restraining order issued earlier this month. It will remain in force until at least April 2022, when a trial is scheduled on the merits of the case.
At a court hearing Monday, Planned Parenthood Federation attorney Julie Murray told the judge that the organization is currently “complying with SB8 precisely because of the overwhelming threats of litigation” and that a provisional order “will not restore abortion services” … but will prevent and reduce exposure to litigation and constitutional prejudice [Planned Parenthood] will experience “.
The parties spent almost two hours reaching an agreement on the terms of the measure.