The Texas Supreme Court issued a stay delaying the abortion of a Dallas mother, Kate Cox, who was seeking to end her high-risk pregnancy. Cox had been granted permission to end her pregnancy after doctors informed her that her daughter would likely be stillborn and would live for only a week at most due to a diagnosis of trisomy 18. They also said that delivering the baby could prevent Cox from having another child. The court’s decision came after an Austin judge issued a temporary restraining order, allowing Cox to get an abortion.
Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a warning to hospitals that the temporary restraining order would not protect them from civil or criminal liability, and he petitioned the Supreme Court of Texas to step in. The court then issued a stay in what has been an unusual legal process. Experts believe the court is likely to issue an opinion on the matter but may not make a straightforward ruling.
Cox’s legal team responded to the decision, expressing concern that justice delayed could be justice denied, as Cox is already 20 weeks pregnant and in need of urgent medical care. This case is considered one of the first brought under new abortion laws and is also about procedural considerations and the implications for future cases.
The court is expected to be cautious about setting precedents that could invite numerous new cases and will likely consider the broader implications of their ruling. Despite being centered around Cox’s personal decision, the court’s decision will carry significant weight in how abortion cases are handled in Texas in the future.
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