Judge strikes down key parts of Texas sonogram law (one of Perry's top legislative priorities)

[jefferson_dem]

Judge strikes down key parts of Texas sonogram law

By JIM VERTUNO, Associated Press – 3 hours ago

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday blocked key provisions of Texas' new law requiring a doctor to perform a sonogram before an abortion, ruling the measure violates the free speech rights of both doctors and patients.

U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks upheld the requirement that sonograms be performed, but struck down the provisions requiring doctors to describe the images to their patients and requiring women to hear the descriptions.

The law made exceptions for women who were willing to sign statements saying they were pregnant as a result of rape or incest or that their fetus had an irreversible abnormality. Sparks questioned whether the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature was trying to "permanently brand" women who are victims of sexual assault.

The law — one of dozens of anti-abortion measures that advanced through state capitals across the United States this year — takes effect Thursday. The New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights had sued to block it.

<SNIP>

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican who is running for president, was critical of Tuesday's ruling. Perry had made the law one of his top priorities for the 2011 legislative session.

<SNIP>

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i9CWAeH0gguuVYSKyY2fPnZ-x-ZA?docId=0bdf4a5c338f44b29da93a88ad48dced

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. The whole thing is just disgusting. Rick Perry must hate women.