The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily reinstated Texas’ near-total abortion ban late Friday after a federal judge ordered two days prior to temporarily suspend the law on the grounds that it violated the “constitutional right” to abortion access.
The law, SB 8, bans most abortions after a heartbeat is detected, usually around six weeks’ gestation.
The decision from the federal appeals court, which is widely considered among the most conservative federal courts in the country, came in a short ruling granting a stay as it considers an appeal by the state of Texas. According to Reuters, “The purpose of the administrative stay is to give the court time to determine whether to issue a more permanent ruling.”
The three-judge panel gave the U.S. Justice Department until Tuesday to respond to Texas’s filings.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton applauded the court’s decision.
“Great news tonight, The Fifth Circuit has granted an administrative stay on #SB8,” Paxton tweeted. “I will fight federal overreach at every turn.”
Lila Rose, president of pro-life organization Live Action, also took to Twitter to express her excitement for the law being enforced again.
“Truly amazing news,” she tweeted. “The heartbeat law was saving an estimated 100 lives every day.”
“Welcome back Texas Heartbeat Act,” tweeted Kristan Hawkins, president of pro-life organization Students for Life. “Just in time to save hundreds tomorrow.”