A reproductive rights group has asked a federal judge in Austin to block a new Texas law requiring doctors to conduct a sonogram before performing an abortion.
The Center for Reproductive Rights argued during a Wednesday morning hearing that the law is unconstitutional. The group wants U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks to block the state from enforcing the law pending its lawsuit to have it overturned.
Sparks says he'll issue a ruling on their request before the law takes effect on abortions performed Oct. 1 and later.
The so-called sonogram law requires doctors to describe the fetus' features and allow pregnant women to hear the fetal heartbeat.
The law doesn't allow women to opt-out of the description. Exemptions are allowed only in cases of rape or incest and when a fetus has fatal abnormalities.
