Supreme Court doesn’t block Texas abortion law, sets hearing

By MARK SHERMAN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is allowing the Texas law that bans most abortions to remain in place for now, but has agreed to hear arguments in the case on Nov. 1. The justices said Friday they will decide whether the federal government has the right to sue over the law. The court’s action leaves in place for the time being a law that clinics say has led to an 80% reduction in abortions in the nation’s second-largest state. The law bans abortions after cardiac activity is detected, usually around six weeks of pregnancy. That’s before some women even know they are pregnant. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that she would have blocked the law now.