Watch live: Justice Department files suit against Texas over SB8 abortion law
Texas | September 9, 2021
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the Justice Department has filed suit against Texas over SB8, the abortion law that went into effect on Sept. 1.
The Texas Tribune reported the law is one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion laws — which bans abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy. The U.S. Supreme Court did not take action on an emergency appeal by Texas abortion providers.
The law prohibits abortions whenever an ultrasound can detect what lawmakers defined as a fetal “heartbeat,” though medical and legal experts say this term is misleading because embryos don’t possess a heart at that developmental stage…. (Excerpts from 2 NBC Houston)