Things are far from completely clear. But Justice Gorsuch's opinion may give preenforcement challenges to SB 8 and other similar laws a good deal more wiggle room than many think.
The Court allowed claims against health care regulators to proceed, but that will not prevent the private civil actions authorized by the law.
District Court Judge David Peeples focused on the law's "unique and unprecedented" enforcement mechanism rather than abortion rights.
The ruling is mostly based on the Texas state constitution and probably will not affect the federal case challenging SB 8, currently before the Supreme Court. But it makes some notable points, nonetheless.
A police dog's alert prompted the search, and the money was seized via civil asset forfeiture.
The appeals court is skeptical of the claim that the Texas governor's order illegally discriminates against people with disabilities.
Gov. Greg Abbott attacks First Amendment rights in the name of defending them.
A federal court wasn't having it.
There are better ways to build trust in the community than by violating the Fourth Amendment.
A delayed, but hopefully still helpful final rejoinder to Stephen Sachs.
A federal judge concluded that the Texas governor's ban on mask mandates illegally discriminated against students with disabilities.
Bau Tran might go to jail for his conduct, but he will be insulated from having to face a jury in civil court.
Gov. Greg Abbott’s crusade is costing the state huge sums just to try to prosecute thousands of misdemeanor trespassing cases.
The slippery slope risks created by upholding SB 8 threaten a vital constitutional principle - one far more important than any considerations on the other side. That is sufficient reason to rule against Texas in this case.
"This is not just an obvious constitutional infringement—it's hard to imagine a more textbook violation of the First Amendment."
Even justices who take a dim view of Roe v. Wade recognize the law’s chilling implications.
If Texas' SB 8 subterfuge works, it would be a dangerous road map for attacking other constitutional rights. The slippery slope risks on the other side are minor by comparison.
Today's Supreme Court oral argument suggests they will get the votes of six or more justices. If so, it will be a crucial victory for judicial protection of all constitutional rights, not just abortion rights.
The Firearms Policy Coalition amicus brief offers a simple and effective way to neuter the threat to judicial review posed by SB 8.
The actual number of abortions that S.B. 8 prevented by the end of September may be closer to 500 than 3,000.
Under S.B. 315, it is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail, to employ 18- to 20-year-olds at any sexually oriented business.
Neither politician is willing to tolerate deviation from the one business policy he thinks is best.
A district court judge found "overwhelming evidence" of Vickers Cunningham's bigotry.
The experience with the Texas Heartbeat Act offers a preview of what that means.
Plus: A dangerous misunderstanding about what caused America's opioid overdose epidemic, a look at this year's Nobel Prize winners, and more...
S.B. 8 allows lawsuits against people who perform prohibited abortions even if they relied on a court's determination that the law is unconstitutional.
In a prior case challenging the law, the 5th Circuit said state judges were not appropriate defendants.
Plus: Twitter's new trigger warnings, good news for food freedom, and more...
Plus: Government shutdown, demographic diversity in rural America, and more...
Government restrictions on private editorial discretion violate the First Amendment.
When you are already convinced a policy makes sense, any evidence will do.
In the first two lawsuits filed under S.B. 8, all of the parties seem to think enforcement of the law should be blocked.
Plus: The link between college and moral absolutism, environmental activists vs. Facebook, and more...
Alan Braid says he broke the law, which prohibits the vast majority of abortions, to make sure it would be tested in court.
Meanwhile, the threat posed by the lawsuits that S.B. 8 authorizes has dramatically curtailed access to abortion in Texas.
Respectfully disagreeing with Josh about United States v. Texas.
Pro-lifers and pro-choicers have one thing in common: a passion for snitching
S.B. 8 relies on litigation tricks that conservatives have long condemned as a threat to the rule of law.
Plus, why is no one talking about the Medicare Trustees' entitlement report?
While libertarians will be inclined to applaud some of the new laws, others exemplify familiar conservative excesses.
Plus: More bad news for free speech online, Fauci on booster shots, and more...
Plus: Millennial myth busting, McFlurry madness, and more...
A couple claims the Harris County Sheriff's Office in Texas seized their life savings two years ago on suspicion of drug trafficking. A new lawsuit says they're not the only ones.
Because the Supreme Court so far has not intervened, post-heartbeat abortions are now illegal in the Lone Star State.
Plus: Kids got more obese during the pandemic, how Section 230 protects gun rights, and more...
