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The United States Supreme Court has once again decided not to block the controversial and severely strict Texas abortion ban, but it has agreed to hear arguments in the case.
The ‘Texas Heartbeat Act ‘makes it illegal for a woman to get an abortion after six weeks– a period in which women typically aren’t aware that they are pregnant.
In addition, the law allows members of the public to sue doctors who perform abortions, or anyone who helps facilitate them. They can be rewarded with $10,000 for initiating cases that lead to prosecution.
In the midst of it being signed into law in May and put into effect in September, several groups have spoken out against the law and filed lawsuits.
The Supreme Court has given the Justice Department, the state of Texas, and other parties until October 27 to file their briefs, and oral arguments will be heard on November 1.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the only justice to write a dissent on Friday, wrote that she would have already decided to block the law until the case was decided.
“Women seeking abortion care in Texas are entitled to relief from this Court now,” Sotomayor wrote. “Because of the Court’s failure to act today, that relief, if it comes, will be too late for many.”
“The promise of future adjudication offers cold comfort, however, for Texas women seeking abortion care, who are entitled to relief now,” said Sotomayor in writing.
On Dec. 1, the high court will also hear arguments in an abortion case from Mississippi, in which the state is asking the court to overturn Roe v. Wade.
