Greg Abbott Condemned as Texas Woman's Abortion Blocked in Court

Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have faced backlash online from social media users after a Dallas-based woman's abortion was temporarily blocked in court.

Earlier this week, a Texas judge granted Kate Cox, a pregnant 31-year-old mother of two, permission to get an abortion as her fetus has a fatal genetic condition. The Texas Supreme Court then said on Friday in an order that it was temporarily staying the lower court's decision, halting Cox from legally getting the medical procedure in Texas. The stay remains in place until the court delivers a full decision in the case.

Texas enacted one of the strictest abortion bans in the United States, following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, leaving individual states to choose its own legal status on abortion. Texas' ban, which does not have exceptions for rape or incest, goes into effect after about six weeks of pregnancy, which is before most women even know they're pregnant. Cox's lawsuit is believed to be the first time since Roe was overturned that a woman has asked a court to approve an abortion.

The state's six-week abortion ban does have a medical exception. However, Paxton, who is leading the effort against the lower court's decision, said in a letter to three hospitals in Houston that Cox failed to demonstrate that she has a life-threatening medical condition or that her symptoms place her at risk of death or major bodily harm.

Cox is being represented by the Center for Reproductive Rights.

In a press release, Molly Duane, senior staff attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights said, "While we still hope that the Court ultimately rejects the state's request and does so quickly, in this case we fear that justice delayed will be justice denied. We are talking about urgent medical care. Kate is already 20 weeks pregnant. This is why people should not need to beg for healthcare in a court of law."

Newsweek reached out to Paxton's office via phone and Abbott's office via phone and email for comment.

Meanwhile, the Texas Supreme Court's decision to temporarily block Cox's abortion has sparked outrage from people on X, formerly Twitter.

X user Jack Brown wrote on Friday, "Ken Paxton and Greg Abbott think they own and have the right to control the reproductive systems of every woman and every girl in Texas. Dwell on this. This is where we are, America. This is the Republican party. Vote Democracy. Vote Blue."

User @saraaaaajean wrote: "I don't believe that Greg Abbott and Ken Paxton actually believe abortion is so wrong in a case like this that it shouldn't be obtainable. I think they just want to assert dominance and control over this poor woman and frankly, all women. Which is horrific and disgusting."

Human rights attorney Paula Cobia gave a warning to several Texas politicians, including Republican Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn.

"Kate Cox. Remember her name @tedcruz @JohnCornyn @KenPaxtonTX @GregAbbott_TX. It's now synonymous with your 'kill the woman to force the birth of a nonviable fetus' barbaric abortion policy. The polls will be flooded to defeat you. Your hatred for women will be your undoing," she wrote.

X user Ricky Davila thought it was a shame that the people of Texas voted in Abbott over the Democratic Party's nominee Robert "Beto" O'Rourke in the 2022 gubernatorial election.

"I'll say it once again for the people in the back, it's disgustingly despicable that many in Texas chose a s****** criminal murderer like Greg Abbott over Beto O'Rourke who would've delivered progress from top to bottom. Sad and frightening," Davila wrote.

However, X user @montividas did not agree with Davila, replying, "I'll say it once again for the people in the back. Democrats version of progress is communism. Sad and frightening."

User @texan_maga questioned the merit of Cox's case, posting, "Probably not even a health risk which is never. Propaganda."

Another X user, Martina Shantez, wrote that Cox "has no health endangering complications, and she can get an abortion outside of Texas. She can always get in a car and DRIVE!"

Cox is 20 weeks pregnant with a fetus that has a trisomy 18 genetic defect, also known as Edwards' syndrome. Most babies with the defect will die before or shortly after being born.

Cox's own health is also on the line. According to the lawsuit she filed, Cox has been to three different emergency rooms in the last month due to severe cramping and unidentifiable fluid leaks. Doctors have also told Cox that if the fetus' heartbeat were to stop, inducing labor could cause a uterine rupture because of her two previous C-sections and that another C-section at full term would risk her ability to carry another fetus.

In addition, Paxton has also threatened to prosecute anyone who carries out an abortion in Cox's case.