Ending health care providers’ case challenging a horrific law, the Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday that because state officials do not have the ability to enforce Texas' six-week abortion ban, they cannot be sued. With one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the country, Texas allows ordinary people to file suit against anyone who helps someone get an abortion—whether that be the clinic itself, clinic employees, or even those who transport a person to the clinic.
Instead of leaving enforcement up to government officials, like other states, Texas prohibited officials from enforcing the law and gave the power to anyone else—including people who reside outside of the state—to sue those who violate it. As a result, when taken to the Supreme Court, cases against the law failed. The Heartbeat Act will now remain in place.