Texas judge halts Abbott's transgender investigation order

A Texas judge on Friday ordered a statewide halt to a directive from Republican Gov. Greg Abbott that called for abuse investigations into the use of gender-affirming care for transgender children, handing a major victory to civil rights organizations that sued to block the order this month.

The decision from Travis County District Judge Amy Clark Meachum arrived the week after the advocacy groups joined the family of a transgender girl to sue Abbott and the state’s child protection agency after the governor's orders prompted scorn from medical groups, local prosecutors and the White House.

After an hours-long hearing, Meachum granted a temporary restraining order to stop any state abuse investigations and potential prosecutions based solely on child abuse allegations related to the provision of gender-affirming care for transgender children — until courts fully resolve the legal issues at stake.

Meachum scheduled a trial to occur in July.

A Feb. 22 directive from Abbott ordered the state’s youth protection agency to inspect the use of puberty-blocking drugs or other gender-related medical procedures on children after state officials declared such care can constitute “child abuse” under state law. Abbott also called for inquiries into parents and medical providers who allegedly violate the law.

President Joe Biden last week condemned the Texas effort as "government overreach at its worst.”