Texas law banning abortion temporarily blocked by court

A Harris County judge granted a temporary restraining order Tuesday to block a pre-Roe v. Wade abortion ban in Texas, signaling a small victory for abortion rights groups.

The judge's order was in response to a lawsuit filed Monday by the Center for Reproductive Rights, the American Civil Liberties Union and two Texas law firms on behalf of several abortion clinics.

Under the temporary restraining order, abortions up to six weeks can resume in the state at some clinics, according to the ACLU.

“Every day that clinics can remain open will save countless people from the life-altering risks and consequences of forced pregnancy,” the group said in a statement following the order.

All abortions in the state were immediately halted following the Supreme Court's decision Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade, ending a federal constitutional right to abortion. The ruling sparked protests across the country while abortion clinics and centers shut down.