Judge Expected to Rule on Texas Abortion Law

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal judge is expected to rule on the constitutionality of a hotly debated Texas law imposing strict limits on abortion before the measure takes effect Tuesday.

Last week, Austin-based U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel heard three days of testimony and arguments about the abortion law. He says he'll rule before it's implemented.

The measure passed the Legislature this summer, amid a 12-plus hour Democratic filibuster and massive protests for and against it.

The law requires doctors to have admitting privileges at hospitals to perform abortions.

It also only allows abortions in surgical centers and bans abortions after 20 weeks, while limiting medication-induced abortions.

Advocacy groups want to block implementation of the admitting privileges requirement and rules on medical abortions.

Texas argues it has a right to protect "fetal life."

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.