Texas Attorney Sues to Block Anti-Abortion 'Heartbeat Bill'

As an attorney and women's rights advocate in Texas, Michelle Simpson Tuegel is no stranger to the state's ever-tightening abortion restrictions. In fact, many of her clients have survived sexual assault and abuse.

“When survivors contact us about their sexual assault case, if they’re pregnant, the question of what to do on that end [and where to seek care] is a discussion that comes up,” she said. Tuegel has to talk to her clients several times a year about abortion laws and their options at any given moment.

She tries to help her clients navigate abortion laws if they choose to get one. But she said Senate Bill 8, which supporters call the country’s “strongest pro-life legislation,” could target her and hold her civilly liable for having these discussions with her clients. That’s why she’s suing Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and several Republican sponsors and coauthors of SB 8, to try to block its enactment.

Abbott and Paxton didn't respond to requests for comment, but both publicly back SB 8.

Read more: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/attorney-sues-to-block-texas-heartbeat-bill-12269985