As states ban abortion, the Texas bounty law offers a way to survive legal challenges
States can now enforce laws that criminalize abortion. But a Texas law that outsources enforcement to civilians could have legal immunity that other laws don't, pushing more states to follow suit.
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, abortion rights opponents in state governments quickly moved to ban the procedure, while abortion rights supporters quickly challenged the bans in court.
The 1973 Supreme Court case established a constitutional right to abortion. Now, abortion rights will be left to states to decide, with years of litigation expected in state courts.
One state abortion ban that has already been tested in courts — and so far prevailed — is a Texas law known as Senate Bill 8.
It took effect last fall and relies not on the government but on private citizens to enforce. Opponents have couched
