SCOTUS Vacates Ruling in Planned Parenthood’s Texas Covid Row

The U.S. Supreme Court docket Monday granted Planned Parenthood’s ask for to vacate two Fifth Circuit selections that permitted a Texas govt get banning abortions all through the Covid-19 pandemic to go into impact.

Prepared Parenthood Centre for Alternative argued the writs of mandamus issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to overturn lessen courtroom decisions blocking the orders were moot. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) changed the challenged govt order with a new one particular that permitted abortions to resume in Texas just two days just after the appeals court’s 2nd choice, Planned Parenthood explained.

The governor’s action created it unattainable for Prepared Parenthood to petition the Supreme Court to hear arguments over the validity of the writs, the petitioner reported.

Abbott opposed evaluation, declaring Prepared Parenthood experienced waited far too extensive to seek out vacatur. In the 5 months among the Fifth Circuit’s past selection and the submitting of the petition, the challenged decisions were used in other Fifth Circuit cases and “cited hundreds of instances in dozens of courts across the place in a fast-acquiring location of law,” Abbott stated.

The Supreme Courtroom ordered the Fifth Circuit to dismiss the circumstance as moot.

Prepared Parenthood Federation of The us, Middle for Reproductive Rights, Lawyering Venture, and Law Offices of Patrick J. O’Connell PLLC represented Planned Parenthood. The Texas Legal professional General’s Business office represented Abbott.

Planned Parenthood gets funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the charitable firm founded by Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg Legislation is operated by entities managed by Michael Bloomberg.

The case is Planned Parenthood Ctr. for Selection v. Abbott, U.S., No. 20-305, vacated 1/25/21.