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A Texas pro-life law set to take effect in September is receiving nationwide attention for its unique approach to stopping abortion: It allows citizens to sue abortion doctors and clinics.

TheĀ law, known as Senate Bill 8, was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in May and prohibits abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is around six weeks of pregnancy. Although other states have passed similar bills, the Texas law is unique in that it allows private citizens to enforce the law through civil lawsuits.

The New York Times spotlighted the law in a July 9 story and quoted a Planned Parenthood lawyer as saying there could be ā€œa flood of suits across Texasā€™ 254 counties.ā€

ā€œItā€™s completely inverting the legal system,ā€ said Stephen Vladeck, a constitutional law professor at the University of Texas at Austin, told theĀ New York Times. ā€œIt says the state is not going to be the one to enforce this law. Your neighbors are.ā€

The text of the law says ā€œany personā€ other than ā€œan officer or employee of a state or local governmental entityā€ may ā€œbring a civil action against any person who ā€¦ performs or induces an abortion in violationā€ of the law. The suit would involve lawsuits in state courts, not federal courts. Those who sue and win would be awarded at least $10,000 for each illegal abortion.

Abortion clinics ā€œare stuck in state court in a defensive posture, and thereā€™s a lot at stake,ā€ Howard M. Wasserman, a law professor at Florida International University, told the newspaper. ā€œIf they lose, they are on the hook for significant sums of money.ā€

The law is difficult to challenge, The Times said, because itā€™s ā€œhard to know whom to sue to block it.ā€ The law ā€œeffectively deputizes ordinary citizens,ā€ The Times said.

ā€œIf the barista at Starbucks overhears you talking about your abortion, and it was performed after six weeks, that barista is authorized to sue the clinic where you obtained the abortion and to sue any other person who helped you, like the Uber driver who took you there,ā€ Melissa Murray, a law professor at New York University, toldĀ The Times. . . .

ā€œOn this side of abolishing Roe,ā€ Burk tweeted, ā€œthis may be the ā€˜legal hackā€™ that could put an end to almost all abortions.ā€

What are your thoughts on this new law? Let us know your thoughts and prayers for America in the comments below! SHARE NOW.

(Excerpt from Christian Headlines. Article written by Michael Fourst. Photo by Canva)

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Michele Kemberling
July 14, 2021

WoW! this is really thinking outside the box.
It may not be the barista but it may very well be the would-have been father or grandparents….
Going after the $$$$ is the best way to dry up any industry.

11
Jeanie M. Owen
July 14, 2021

It is interesting. I wonder how many people would actually take this action?

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