Attorneys General Come Together to Stop Abortion Ban

Texas is currently enacting an unconstitutional statewide ban on abortions that has wound back the clock for women across the state. The law encourages citizens to hunt down and rat out people who are getting an abortion, and anyone involved can be sued by these vigilantes, from doctors to Uber drivers.

The law is backed by separate citizens filing lawsuits, leaving it without a figurehead. Because of that, the state Supreme Court cannot summon any specific person to trial, making judicial review has hard as possible. It is obvious this ban was crafted as a conscious, slighting attempt on women’s autonomy and rights with no way to easily strike back.

The Attorneys General that have assembled to stop this ban in its tracks are prepared for the job. Twenty-four attorneys general from Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin have teamed up with one goal in mind: allow the women of Texas to have reproductive freedom and healthcare.

In a brief held on October 18, the coalition argues that SB 8, the ban on abortions in Texas, not only disregards about half a century of legal precedence, but also attempts to hinder judicial review and doge accountability for Texas by creating what is known as a “private enforcement scheme.” This puts women in Texas in a bad place in terms of their rights and bodily autonomy.

“This twisted and perverse take on The Handmaid’s Tale is simply an effort to control women’s rights, their bodies, and their choices, which is why we are taking this battle to the Supreme Court,” Says Attorney General Letitia James. “We will not allow Texas or any other conservative-led state to wage a war on women’s reproductive freedoms without a fight.”

This ban doesn’t only affect the state of Texas. Surrounding areas such as California, Colorado, Illinois, Oklahoma, Nevada, and especially New Mexico are being bombarded with abortion treatments that Texas has made illegal, preventing the citizens of these areas from getting their everyday treatment.

“The District Court got it right—this law is an aggressive and offensive violation of a well-established constitutional right” said Attorney General William Tong. “The Supreme Court must uphold the District Court decision and protect women and patients from irreparable harm. This fight has just begun, but we are ready and will be there at every stage, in every court to defend the right to healthcare free from political interference.”

Accoridng to The Texas Tribune, previous laws designed to do this very same thing have been struck down multiple times by the Supreme Court. The Attorneys general continue to fight tooth and nail against this unconstitutional ban in supreme court via lawsuit against Texas.

“The United States has the authority and responsibility to ensure that Texas cannot evade its obligations under the Constitution and deprive individuals of their constitutional rights,” the lawsuit stated. “The federal government therefore brings this suit directly against the State of Texas to obtain a declaration that S.B. 8 is invalid, to enjoin its enforcement, and to protect the rights that Texas has violated.”