A twist in the new unprecedented Texas abortion law: "There's no one to sue"
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The Supreme Court's decision not to interfere with Texas' strict abortion law provoked outrage from liberals and cheers from many conservatives. Could the Supreme Court justices be closer than ever to overturning Roe v. Wade? Josh Blackman, Professor of South Texas College of Law, is not convinced that the new prohibitive law would have any impact on abortions whatsoever. "This law can't overrule Roe v. Wade. If someone brings a lawsuit tomorrow against a clinic that perfroms a six-week abortion, the suit would be dismissed." Yet this law, billed as "death by a thousand cuts," does bring Texas into unchartered territory. "There's no law like this that gives private citizens the complete power to enforce the law, this law is novel and creative." And the way this legislation has been crafted could very well inspire other states to adopt the very same framework to support other completely unrelated causes, affirms Mr. Blackman. "California could pass a law allowing citizens to sue gun stores, for example. This could be available in many different contexts," concludes Mr. Blackman.