Justice Department sues Texas over state's new abortion law

The Justice Department on Thursday filed suit against Texas over a state's law that bans most abortions past six weeks.

The department said the law, signed in May by GOP Gov. Greg Abbott, is "in open defiance of the Constitution."

The suit, filed in federal court in Texas, asks the judge to declare that the law is invalid, according to the Associated Press.

Attorney General Merrick Garland became involved after the Supreme Court decided not to take the case.

The Texas law prohibits abortions once medical professionals can detect cardiac activity – usually around six weeks, before some women know they’re pregnant.

Earlier this week, Garland vowed the department would address the matter in part by enforcing a federal law known as the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, the wire service.