Center for Reproductive Rights

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Team-

This week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit became the
first federal court in the country to uphold a ban on the standard
method of abortion after approximately 15 weeks of pregnancy in our
case in Texas.

Just last year, a panel of judges at the Fifth Circuit struck down
this ban as unconstitutional. The full Fifth Circuit then took the
unusual step of deciding on its own to vacate the panel decision and
rehear the case in front of the full court in January, resulting in
Wednesday's decision.

The Center for Reproductive Rights and our partners brought the
challenge to Texas's D&E (dilation and evacuation) abortion ban in
2017 on behalf of Whole Woman's Health-which manages four health
clinics in the state of Texas-along with other providers in the
state. Doctors who violate the ban on the procedure will face up to
two years in prison.

In response to the court's decision, Whole Woman's Health President
Amy Hagstrom Miller said:

"This ban is about cutting off abortion access, and nothing else. In
no other area of medicine would politicians consider preventing
doctors from using a standard procedure. It should never be a crime
for doctors to use their best medical judgment and follow the most
current science. Texans deserve the best care available, and this law
prevents that. As the six-week ban is looming, it's even more apparent
that these laws are about making abortion completely inaccessible.
Texas lawmakers are coming at us from both ends and will not stop
until abortion is illegal."

At a time when the health care needs of Texans are greater than ever,
the state should be making abortion more accessible, not less. There
is no question that this decision will harm those who already face the
greatest barriers to health care.

As of 2017, some 96% of Texas counties had no clinics that provided
abortion care. Half the abortion clinics in Texas had already shut
down after Texas passed a devastating abortion restriction-even
though the Supreme Court struck it down in 2016 in Whole Woman's
Health v. Hellerstedt. Most never reopened.

The Center has worked alongside Whole Woman's Health for years to
fight back against attacks on reproductive rights in Texas. They are
also currently the lead plaintiff in our case challenging a state law
that bans abortion after just six weeks of pregnancy.

You can learn more about the critical work of Whole Woman's Health
Alliance here.
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We are analyzing this decision and will consider all of our legal
options. With you by our side, we will keep fighting until everyone
has access to safe, legal abortion care.

Sincerely,

Center for Reproductive Rights



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The Center for Reproductive Rights uses the power of law to advance

reproductive rights as fundamental human rights around the world.

© Center for Reproductive Rights

Center for Reproductive Rights
199 Water St.
New York, NY 10038
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