NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The federal appeals court in New Orleans says Texas can enforce an abortion law passed last year while opponents challenge it in court.
A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday overturned a district judge's temporary order against enforcing the law. The measure requires that doctors who perform abortions show sonograms to patients, describe the images and describe the fetal heartbeat.
The panel says U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks in Austin was incorrect to rule that doctors had a substantial chance to win their case.
Sparks ruled in August that several provisions of the state law violated the free-speech rights of doctors who perform abortions.
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