Updated April 7, 4 p.m. PST.
CBS News reports:
Texas can continue to legally implement its near-total ban on abortion services amid the coronavirus outbreak, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday afternoon. Abortion services in Texas have been unavailable for more than two weeks, driving some patients to seek the procedure in neighboring states or terminate their pregnancy themselves.
In a split ruling Tuesday, two federal judges—Judge Kyle Duncan and Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod—ruled the directive was constitutional, despite Supreme Court precedent that protects access to abortion.
Judge Duncan was appointed by President Donald Trump and Judge Elrod by President George W. Bush.
Judge Kyle Dennis, appointed by President Bill Clinton, dissented, writing: “In a time where panic and…