A judge decided that the Texas abortion ban is too harsh for women with pregnancy problems.

In Austin, Texas, a judge decided on Friday that the state’s abortion ban is too strict for women facing serious pregnancy complications. This ruling marks the first challenge to the law since its implementation in 2022 and is a significant win for those who support abortion rights. The decision could set a precedent for easing restrictions in other states, but it was quickly blocked by an appeal to the Texas Supreme Court, according to the state attorney general’s office.

The trial court’s order to stop the ban is not in effect, and the situation remains as it was,” said spokesperson Paige Willey in an email.

State District Judge Jessica Mangrum’s ruling granted a temporary injunction that prevents Texas from enforcing the ban against physicians who in their “good faith judgment” end a pregnancy that, because of complications, creates a risk of infection or is otherwise unsafe for the woman to continue.

The injunction also applies to women who have a condition “exacerbated by pregnancy” who can’t be effectively treated during their term. It also covers cases where the fetus has a condition that makes it unlikely to survive after birth.

“For the first time in a long time, I cried for joy when I heard the news,” lead plaintiff Amanda Zurawski said in a statement. “This is exactly why we did this. This is why we put ourselves through the pain and the trauma over and over again to share our experiences and the harms caused by these awful laws.”

Mangrum’s decision said the injunction would run until the completion of the case, which is scheduled for a trial to begin next March 25.

However, the state’s immediate appeal has halted an attempt by an activist judge in Austin to override Texas’ abortion laws, pending a decision by the Texas Supreme Court, as stated by First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster.

The immediate consequences of Mangrum’s ruling remain uncertain in a state where all abortion clinics have closed over the past year.

This challenge to the state law is believed to be the first of its kind in the U.S., initiated by women who were denied abortions after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, a decision that had upheld the right to abortion for nearly 50 years.

In a concise six-page judgment, the judge determined that certain aspects of the abortion law violated the rights granted to pregnant individuals under the Texas Constitution.

The court established that the patients challenging the law had each encountered “urgent medical conditions” during pregnancy that jeopardized their health or lives, necessitating abortion care.

However, they faced delays or denials in accessing such care due to widespread uncertainty about its impact on physicians, the ruling outlined.

“Today’s decision should prevent other Texans from enduring the unimaginable trauma that our plaintiffs went through,” stated Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, a key participant in the lawsuit.

During two days of heartfelt testimonies in an Austin courtroom, women shared heart-wrenching stories of discovering that their babies wouldn’t survive childbirth and being unable to travel long distances to states where abortion remains legal.

The challenge, filed in March, does not aim to repeal Texas’ abortion ban, but rather seeks to compel greater clarity regarding the circumstances under which exceptions are permitted within the framework of one of the most stringent abortion laws in the U.S.

In accordance with Texas law, physicians conducting abortions face the possibility of life imprisonment and fines of up to $100,000. Critics argue that this situation has resulted in certain women being left with healthcare providers who are unwilling to engage in discussions regarding pregnancy termination.

A survey conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research in late June revealed that a majority of U.S. adults, even those residing in states with stringent abortion restrictions, believe that abortion should remain legal, at least during the early stages of pregnancy.