State threatened with contempt unless it allows abortion clinic to open (Texas)

AUSTIN -- A federal judge is threatening to hold Texas state health officials in contempt of court unless they allow an embattled El Paso abortion provider to open a new clinic.

The judge, Lee Yeakel, ruled Monday that the Texas Department of State Health Services must immediately stop enforcing the state's sweeping abortion law against the provider, called Reproductive Services.

"Failure to comply with this Order shall subject (state officials) to sanctions for contempt of court," Yeakel wrote.

A health department spokeswoman said officials will comply with the order, likely meaning that the clinic will be allowed to reopen.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/politics/texas/article/Judge-threatens-contempt-charges-unless-state-6451499.php

Cross-posted in LBN.