Federal Judge Blocks Key Provision of Texas Abortion Law, Ruling it Unconstitutional In a significant blow to Texas' restrictive abortion law, a federal judge has ruled that a key provision of the law is unconstitutional. The provision in question, which allowed private citizens to sue individuals who assist in abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, has been the subject of intense controversy and legal challenge. The ruling, handed down by US District Judge Robert Pitman, is a major victory for abortion rights advocates who have argued that the law infringes upon a woman's constitutional right to choose. The decision is likely to be appealed by the state of Texas and could have far-reaching implications for the future of abortion access in the US.