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Judge Blocks Parts of Texas Abortion Law

By Kamal Nayan | Update Date: Oct 29, 2013 09:08 AM EDT

A federal judge in U.S. recently overturned a restriction which was imposed on abortion providers in Texas declaring it unconstitutional.

The controversial restriction was set to go in effect from October 29. The restriction was among bunch of new rules which might have forced five of the clinics to shutdown.

U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel in Austin ruled that compulsory affiliation “does not bear a rational relationship to the legitimate right of the state in preserving and promoting fetal life or a woman’s health,” reported Bloomberg Businessweek.

Texas is one of the most populous state in which such inclusive clinic regulation has been passed. The legislation was signed by Republican Governor Rick Perry in July. Primarily the legislation required abortion facilities to become outpatient surgical centers.

“The state has already appealed the court’s ruling,” said Lauren Bean, a spokeswoman for Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, according to Bloomberg Businessweek.

“As everyone – including the trial court judge – has acknowledged, this is a matter that will ultimately be resolved by the appellate courts or the U.S. Supreme Court.”

However this ruling was only a partial victory for abortion-rights advocates in Texas. The federal judge allowed the state to also enforce the restrictions on using drugs to delay or terminate pregnancy.

“Texas families are stronger and healthier when women across the state have access to quality health care,” said state Senator Wendy Davis, yesterday in a statement, according to Bloomberg Businessweek . “As a mother, I would rather see our tax dollars spent on improving our kid’s schools than defending this law.”

The challenge to the passed law was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and Center for Reproductive Rights who are based in New York.

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