Texas abortionist sued under new law

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Protesters oppose Texas’ heartbeat law outside the Capitol in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 1. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP

Two out-of-state former attorneys seeking to challenge the Texas heartbeat law on Monday sued a San Antonio abortionist. Alan Braid revealed in a weekend opinion column that he provided abortion to a woman in her first trimester who had a baby with a detectable heartbeat. Braid said he wants the law to get tested in court despite any legal consequences he might face.

Who filed the lawsuit? Arkansas-based Oscar Stilley said his lawsuit intends to force a court review of the heartbeat law, which allows private citizens to sue people involved in aborting babies with a detectable heartbeat. Felipe Gomez of Chicago called the law a form of government overreach and asked the San Antonio court to declare it unconstitutional. Two other federal lawsuits against the law are proceeding through the courts. Texas Right to Life condemned the lawsuits, saying neither of them “are valid attempts to save innocent human lives.”

Dig deeper: Read Leah Savas’ report in Vitals on responses to concerns over the heartbeat law.

Onize Ohikere

Onize is WORLD’s Africa reporter and deputy global desk chief. She is a World Journalism Institute graduate and earned a journalism degree from Minnesota State University–Moorhead. Onize resides in Abuja, Nigeria.

@onize_ohiks