Texas Court Lifts Injunction on Midwife's Clinics Amid Abortion Dispute
WHO:
CBS News - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accused Maria Rojas of performing illegal abortions and practicing medicine without a license.
ABC News - Maria Margarita Rojas is a midwife known as "Dr. Maria" who owned and operated multiple clinics.
ABC News - Jenna Hudson is senior counsel at the Center for Reproductive Rights, representing Rojas.
WHAT:
ABC News - The Texas appeals court ruling stated that the state did not provide sufficient evidence to support the allegations that abortions were performed at Rojas' clinics.
Houston Chronicle - The ruling by the Texas 15th Court of Appeals indicated that the state’s case relied on "probable-cause" affidavits based on an anonymous email.
Houston Chronicle - The ruling only applies to the injunction, and Rojas' case regarding the alleged violation of the abortion ban will continue, along with the cases of eight other individuals associated with her clinics.
CBS News - A Texas appeals court reversed a temporary injunction that closed Rojas' clinics.
ABC News - Rojas was arrested in March 2025 and accused of providing "illegal abortions" and practicing medicine without a license.
ABC News - The Fifteenth Court of Appeals found that the state did not provide sufficient evidence for the temporary injunction.
ABC News - Rojas is facing criminal charges, including a second-degree felony for allegedly performing an abortion.
ABC News - The attorney general's office arrested ten other people affiliated with the clinics, accusing them of practicing medicine without a license.
WHERE:
ABC News - Rojas operated clinics in northwestern Houston, including Clinica Waller Latinoamericana in Waller, Clinica Latinoamericana Telge in Cypress, and Latinoamericana Medical Clinic in Spring.
WHEN:
ABC News - Rojas was arrested in March 2025.
ABC News - A lower court issued a temporary injunction against Rojas in May of the previous year.
ABC News - The appeals court ruling occurred on a Thursday, with no specific date provided.
WHY:
ABC News - Jenna Hudson stated that Rojas has been subjected to "vile treatment by the state of Texas," emphasizing the lack of evidence presented against her.
ABC News - Rojas' attorneys argue that the allegations against her are untrue and that the state has failed to prove any illegal activity at the clinics.
ABC News - The attorney general's office claims Rojas provided unqualified medical advice leading to illegal abortions.
HOW:
Houston Chronicle - Justice Scott Field wrote in his opinion that "without the probable-cause affidavits, the remaining evidence in the record does not reasonably support the State’s allegations that abortions have been performed at the Clinics."
ABC News - The appeals court determined that the state improperly presented probable-cause affidavits from Rojas' criminal case at the civil hearing.
ABC News - Rojas spent 10 days in jail, paid a bond for release, and is currently wearing an ankle monitor.
(UPDATED July 24, 2026 05:53 UTC)
A Texas appeals court has ruled that the state did not provide enough evidence to support allegations of abortions being performed at Rojas' clinics, with the case relying heavily on "probable-cause" affidavits based on an anonymous email. Justice Scott Field noted that without these affidavits, the remaining evidence does not reasonably support the state's claims. While this ruling applies only to the injunction, Rojas' case regarding the alleged violation of the abortion ban will continue, along with the cases of eight others associated with her clinics.
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(UPDATED July 24, 2026 01:30 UTC)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has accused midwife Maria Rojas, known as "Dr. Maria," of performing illegal abortions and practicing medicine without a license, following her arrest in March 2025. A Texas appeals court recently reversed a temporary injunction that had closed Rojas' clinics, ruling that the state did not provide sufficient evidence to support the injunction, while Rojas' attorneys maintain that the allegations are unfounded. Currently, Rojas is facing criminal charges, including a second-degree felony for allegedly performing an abortion, and she is under an ankle monitor after spending ten days in jail.