In a stunning move, a federal judge Monday ruled that abortion restrictions authorized by Texas lawmakers in July are unconstitutional, and will not be implemented as scheduled on Tuesday, according to court documents obtained by NBC News.
The decision comes four months after Democratic state Sen. Wendy Davis, now a candidate for governor, staged a dramatic 13-hour filibuster against the proposed restrictions.
The filibuster forced Gov. Rick Perry to order a second special legislative session for the Republican-dominated Legislature to pass the controversial law.
U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel decided Monday that the regulations impeded on the rights of abortion physicians to do what they judge is best for their patients and would unreasonably limit a woman’s access to state abortion clinics.
Last week, Yeakel heard three days of testimony and oral arguments in Austin about the hot-button law, which opponents and abortion rights advocates sued to bar from taking effect.
More from Daniel Arkin @NBC News
Posted by Libergirl
