WASHINGTON CO. DISTRICT ATTORNEY INCLUDED IN FEDERAL LAWSUIT FILED BY ABORTION RIGHTS GROUPS
Washington County District Attorney Julie Renken is one of five district attorneys in Texas that have been sued by abortion rights groups, in connection to the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the state’s restrictions on abortion.
Renken revealed in commissioners court this (Monday) morning that she, the district attorneys in Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell and Travis counties, and Attorney General Ken Paxton are being sued in federal court. The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction to prevent Paxton and the district attorneys from prosecuting abortion rights nonprofits, who Renken said can provide financial assistance to women looking to have an abortion out of state.
Renken stated she was “randomly selected” based on Washington County being in the same federal district court jurisdiction as Travis County.
According to the Texas Tribune, the plaintiffs that are named in the suit are Fund Texas Choice, the North Texas Equal Access Fund, the Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity, Frontera Fund, The Afiya Center, West Fund, Jane’s Due Process, Clinic Access Support Network and Dr. Ghazaleh Moayedi.
Paxton’s office has not agreed to represent Renken in her official capacity, but she said he will send a special prosecutor to her office. Needing someone with the ability to represent Renken in federal court, commissioners approved a contract for professional services with Eric Magee of Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP.
Out of the counties involved in the suit, Renken said only Travis County would be in a position to actually enforce Texas’ limits on abortion, given that abortions cannot be obtained in the other counties.
On August 25th, the state’s trigger law making performing an abortion a felony offense went into effect. The law makes exceptions for patients whose life is threatened by a pregnancy, but not for cases of rape or incest.
Renken said while they are currently the only counties named in the suit, she believes it will open up to include all district attorneys in the state.
Also at today’s meeting, commissioners:
- Approved a hangar fuel system for the Washington County EMS helicopter hangar behind the Washington Volunteer Fire Department. The hangar has been receiving fuel via a 500 gallon trailer, but the EMS department is upgrading to a 2,000 gallon fuel system in order to increase the amount of fuel on hand before needing to resupply, and to be able to purchase fuel using less expensive bulk rates. The project is $41,000 and meets the guidelines for funding through the American Rescue Plan Act.
- Approved a contract with W-Industries for the generator project at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
- Authorized procurement of administrative and engineering services for the Community Development Block Grant Regional Council of Governments Method of Distribution administered through the Texas General Land Office. The item pertains to relief funding made available to COGs for Hurricane Harvey.
- Read proclamations to declare October 27th as Think Pink Thursday and the month of October as Polish Heritage Month.
- Approved the county engineer to advertise for sealed bids for the removal of salvaged bridge material from the job site and yard stockpile.
- Renewed the Washington CountyChoice Silver retiree health program through Texas Association of Counties Health and Employee Benefits Pool with the addition of Medicare Advantage Plan 1 and Manage My Health. All monthly premiums will be paid by the retiree.
- Approved a resolution for the 2023 Washington County Indigent Defense Grant Program.
- Approved a final plat for Sunset Hills Estate, a residential development of 94.377 acres consisting of 34 lots and two reserves with three roads in Precinct 2 off of FM 2447.
- Approved a final plat for Section 1 of Hill Creek Ridge, a residential development of 32.975 acres consisting of 10 lots and one reserve with one road in Precinct 1 off of FM 1155.
- Approved subdivision variance requests for land divisions fronting Wellmann Road in Precinct 1 and Pawlak Lane in Precinct 2.
- Discussed a formal notice from Magnolia Oil & Gas Operating, LLC for a 12-inch temporary fresh water line for a six-month duration within the right of way of Upshaw Road, Haupstrasse Road, Koether Road, Moye Road and Bascome Lane in Precinct 4.
- Discussed a formal notice from Magnolia Oil & Gas Operating, LLC for a 12-inch lay-flat rubber water transfer line for a four-month duration within the right of way of Raymond Lehmann Lane in Precinct 4.