Texas law that would ban most abortions set to go into effect Wednesday following canceled hearing

A law banning most abortions in Texas is set to go into effect Wednesday, following the cancelation of a hearing on the issue by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. 

In May, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation – state Senate Bill 8 – that would prohibit abortions following the detection of a fetal heartbeat, which can occur as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.

The law will also allow members of the public to file suit against doctors they believe have violated the law. 

Nearly two-dozen abortion providers were looking to block the law from going into effect. But Friday night, the court canceled a hearing planned for Monday, at which the providers had hoped to present their argument. The ban would reportedly impact close to 90% of the abortions that currently take place in Texas. 

On Saturday evening, the providers filed an emergency motion requesting that the appeals court issue a temporary stay or send the matter back to a lower court. The 5th Circuit Court, one of the most conservative in the country, denied the request Sunday afternoon.