Department of Justice sues Texas over abortion ban

The Department of Justice today filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas over its 6-week abortion ban, saying that it is clearly unconstitutional and was crafted to avoid legal scrutiny.

"The United States has the authority and responsibility to ensure that Texas cannot evade its obligations under the Constitution and deprive individuals of their constitutional rights by adopting a statutory scheme designed specifically to evade traditional mechanisms of federal judicial review," the lawsuit states.

The Justice Department is seeking a declaratory judgment declaring the Texas abortion ban invalid, as well as a "preliminary and permanent injunction against "the State of Texas" — including all of its officers, employees, and agents, including private parties who would enforce the abortion ban.