New Jersey joins amicus brief asking Supreme Court to block Texas abortion law

Acting Attorney General Andrew Bruck announced today that he has signed onto an amicus brief supporting the Justice Department’s Supreme Court challenge to a new Texas law that bans abortion after six weeks.

The brief, which was signed by Democratic attorneys general in 23 states and the District of Columbia, specifically argues that Texas’ abortion law violates the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and nearly fifty years of judicial precedent.

“A federal judge rightly rejected the Texas law because it takes away a fundamental right under our Constitution, and because it threatens harm to untold numbers of persons who need or who provide this essential healthcare,” Bruck said in a statement. “We fully agree and we call on the Supreme Court to halt enforcement of this blatantly illegal measure.”

Gov. Phil Murphy, who has made defending access to abortion a key part of his re-election campaign, said that he supported the amicus brief and Bruck’s decision to join the coalition against the state of Texas.

“S.B. 8 is a clear and present danger to the bodily autonomy of women and their right to privacy,” Murphy said. “Acting Attorney General Bruck’s announcement is a welcome development. We will fight this misguided, offensive, and reckless assault on abortion services and women’s health and we will not rest until the right to choose is no longer under threat.”

Today’s announcement isn’t the first time Bruck has signed onto a brief challenging the Texas law. Last month, Bruck and a number of other states filed a similar amicus brief more broadly supporting the Justice Department’s position that the law is unconstitutional.