A Texas state appeals court ruled on Thursday that Attorney General Ken Paxton did not present sufficient evidence to support claims that Houston midwife Maria Margarita Rojas violated the state’s abortion ban. The ruling overturned an injunction that had shut down three clinics owned by Rojas, according to CBS News and Reuters.
Key Takeaways
A Texas appeals court ruled that Attorney General Ken Paxton failed to prove claims against midwife Maria Rojas for violating the state’s abortion ban, overturning an injunction that had shut down her three clinics. The ruling does not dismiss criminal charges against Rojas, who faces ongoing legal and financial hurdles.
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▼Source Claims Check
1 Difference FoundAll 4 publishers report consistent facts across 2 key claims. 1 point of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evidence Used | 1 Difference | CBS News and Reuters say state relied on affidavits; Salon says state failed to present admissible evidence. | ▼ |
| Court Ruling | Broad Agreement | Court ruled AG lacked evidence, overturned injunction. | |
| Clinic Reopening | Broad Agreement | Clinics unlikely to reopen due to legal and financial hurdles. |
Evidence Used
▼CBS News and Reuters say state relied on affidavits; Salon says state failed to present admissible evidence.
Court Ruling
Broad AgreementCourt ruled AG lacked evidence, overturned injunction.
Clinic Reopening
Broad AgreementClinics unlikely to reopen due to legal and financial hurdles.
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The Fifteenth Court of Appeals determined that the state relied heavily on affidavits from a related criminal case rather than admissible evidence in the civil proceeding. The court concluded that the probable-cause affidavit was improperly admitted, leaving insufficient evidence to support the injunction issued in Waller County, Texas, in March 2025.
The clinics provided care to underserved communities outside of Houston, primarily serving Spanish-speaking and low-income populations. Rojas has been licensed in midwifery for over 15 years in the U.S., attending over 700 births. Despite the ruling, Jenna Hudson, senior counsel at the Center for Reproductive Rights, told HuffPost that it will be nearly impossible for Rojas to reopen the clinics due to ongoing legal restrictions and financial burdens.
The case has garnered national attention as Rojas is the first person to be sued under the Texas Human Life Protection Act. The law bans abortions after six weeks with narrow exceptions. According to Reuters, Paxton's office claims that Rojas employed other midwives at three clinics who falsely presented themselves as licensed medical professionals to provide medical treatment.
The appeals court’s decision does not dismiss the underlying allegations or the criminal charges against Rojas, who has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors allege she illegally performed abortions and practiced medicine without a license. Paxton’s office said it plans to appeal the decision to the Texas Supreme Court, as reported by Salon.
The Center for Reproductive Rights welcomed the ruling, stating that the state failed to produce evidence supporting its claims and arguing that the injunction should never have been granted. The organization noted that the criminal prosecution remains pending.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 4 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.