Texas women testify in lawsuit on state abortion laws: "I don't feel safe to have children in Texas anymore"

Austin, Texas — A group of women suing Texas for clarity about exceptions to the state's strict abortion laws gave emotional testimony Wednesday about the life-threatening risks to their health they endured when they say they were denied care during their failed pregnancies. 

The lawsuit, which was brought by the Center for Reproductive Rights, is believed to be the first to be brought by women who were denied abortions after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year. The women are not trying to overturn the state's abortion ban, but rather, are seeking a preliminary injunction on the state's abortion laws to allow lifesaving procedures. 

State Attorney General Ken Paxton's office, which is defending the ban, argues the women lack the standing to sue, asserting in its motion to dismiss the lawsuit that "none of the patients' alleged injuries are traceable to defendants." The state's lawyers asked the witnesses Wednesday if Paxton had personally told them they could not have an abortion.