AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Pro-choice groups are suing pro-life Texas officials they say are attempting to destroy a "pregnant person's right to self-determination and reproductive healthcare."
Those plaintiffs include Fund Texas Choice and The Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity, and they filed suit Aug. 23 in Austin federal court against state Attorney General Ken Paxton and county and district attorneys around the state.
The suit follows the June 24 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that overturned Roe v. Wade.
"Agents of the State of Texas contend that virtually every activity of those who assist pregnant Texans to understand their rights and medical options is now subject to criminal prosecution," the suit says.
"The threats have been repeated and far-ranging, and the intimidation has chilled helping professionals from providing counseling, financial, logistical and even informational assistance to pregnant Texans who may need access (to) abortion care outside of the state."
Tweets, cease-and-desist letters and other forms of communication have threatened corporations around the state who promise to help their staff find abortion-related health care outside of Texas.
The suit cites a letter to the Sidley Austin law firm that said its decision to reimburse travel costs "of employees who leave Texas to murder their unborn children" appears to make the firm "complicit in illegal abortions."
Abortion is a felony in Texas unless the mother's life is in danger, letter read, threatening that the firm is exposing itself to prosecution and disbarment.
The lawsuit can be read here.