How to watch the Texas Supreme Court hearing on the abortion bans via livestream

Bayliss Wagner, Austin American-Statesman
Updated ·2 min read
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The Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear oral arguments in an abortion rights lawsuit that pits 22 women against their home state.

The plaintiffs, 20 women who were denied abortions despite severe pregnancy complications and two OB-GYNs suing on behalf of their patients, are demanding that the state clarify medical exceptions to its near-total abortion ban. They allege that the state's vague language and “non-medical terminology” in its laws leave doctors unable or unwilling to administer abortion care, forcing patients to seek treatment out of state or wait until after their lives are in danger.

More: Texas Supreme Court to hear case Tuesday challenging state's near-total abortion ban

The case moved up to the Supreme Court in August after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton appealed the ruling of Travis County District Judge Jessica Mangrum. Mangrum had ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and issued an injunction blocking enforcement of two state laws restricting abortion, Senate Bill 8 and the "trigger law," which went into effect after the fall of Roe v. Wade.

Here’s how to watch the hearing as it happens.

What time will the hearing begin, and how long will it last?

There is not a set start time for the Zurawski v. Texas hearing, but it is expected to begin around 9:45 a.m.

On days when hearings are scheduled, the court hears three cases, beginning at 9 a.m., and Zurawski v. Texas has the second slot. Each hearing takes around 50 minutes, with 20 minutes of argument allowed for each side and a 10-minute pause between them.

How can I watch the hearing over livestream?

The hearing will be accessible for free via livestream on the Texas Supreme Court’s YouTube channel and the Texas Bar Association website. The stream will begin when the first case is heard at 9 a.m.

How can I watch the hearing in person?

The hearing will take place at the Texas Supreme Court, across from the Capitol. Seating for the public is first-come, first-served and the hearing is expected to be well attended, so plan to come early if you want to snag seats.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: How to watch the Texas Supreme Court hearing on abortion bans live