Fifth Circuit Will Hear Texas Abortion Law Referral Jan. 7

The Fifth Circuit will hear oral arguments Jan. 7 on whether it should ask the Texas Supreme Court to answer questions over a state law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, the federal appeals court said Monday.

Texas administrative officials asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to certify to the state’s top court the issue of whether Texas administrative officials are proper defendants in a suit challenging the law’s constitutionality.

The provision known as S.B. 8 is the strictest abortion law in the country, as it forbids abortions at a time when most people don’t ...