AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ A federal judge presiding over a lawsuit against new Texas abortion restrictions says he has a problem with anyone traveling 150 miles for medical care if the procedure could be done closer.
U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel on Wednesday didn’t issue a ruling following closing arguments in a trial challenging a Texas law that would ban abortions at more than dozen clinics starting September 1st.
But Yeakel honed in on the question of how far is too far for a woman to obtain the constitutional right of ending a pregnancy.
The law requires all Texas abortion facilities to meet more stringent hospital-style operational standards. That would eliminate all abortion providers in the western half of the state.
A ruling is expected in the coming weeks.
