The American justice system authorized on Tuesday Texas appeal to temporarily suspend the abortions within the framework of the fight against the new coronavirus, reversing a decision taken the day before by a federal court.
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Like many of his counterparts, the governor of this conservative state in the southern United States has ordered the postponement of non-emergency medical procedures in order to ensure the availability of hospital beds for patients with Covid-19 and protective equipment for caregivers.
Eight days ago, his attorney general, Republican Ken Paxton, decreed that this order also applies to voluntary abortions, except in cases of danger to the life of the patient. Violating the order will be punishable by up to 180 days in prison and a $ 1,000 fine, he added.
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Denouncing an "ideological" maneuver, defenders of the right to abortion had seized the justice in urgency and, Monday evening, a federal judge of Austin blocked the decision of Ken Paxton while awaiting a judgment on the merits. Saying "very disappointed", the prosecutor had appealed on Tuesday morning and at midday, he obtained a stage victory.
The trial decision "is suspended provisionally in order to give the Court sufficient time to examine" the arguments of the parties, ordered a court of appeal.
In a press release, prosecutor Paxton "applauded" this decision, which he said "places the right priorities in the allocation of protective equipment for carers".
Beyond Texas, several other conservative states in the south and center of the country consider abortions to be "non-emergency" interventions prohibited during the pandemic.
