Gregory Wayne Abbott (born November 13, 1957) is an American attorney who has served as the 48th governor of Texas since January 20, 2015. A member of the Republican Party, Abbott previously served as the 50th attorney general of Texas from 2002 to 2015. He is the third governor of any U.S. state to permanently use a wheelchair. He is also the first disabled governor in Texas history.
Injunction granted
Omar Ochoa An Austin judge has stopped investigations of families of trans kids until a July trial on the issue occurs DAVID TAFFET | Senior Staff Writertaffet@dallasvoice.com “There is a substantial likelihood that plaintiffs will prevail after a trial on the merits,” Judge Amy Clark Meachum wrote while granting an injunction that stops investigations into parents of transgender kids by the Department of Family and Protective Services, which began in February at the direction of Gov.
Greg Abbott. “The governor’s directive,” the judge continued, “is ‘ultra vires’ — beyond the scope of his authority, and unconstitutional.” In her 10-page order, Meachum wrote that “gender-affirming care was not investigated as child abuse by DFPS until after February 22, 2022.” On that particular date, the department that investigates charges of child abuse changed the status quo for trans children, their families and professionals who provide treatment throughout the state. “The governor’s directive was given the effect of a new law or a new agency rule, despite no new legislation, regulation or even stated agency policy,” Meachum wrote.
And that violates separation of powers. The judge recognized that without an injunction, the plaintiffs could suffer irreparable harm.
Already, one of the plaintiffs has been put on administrative leave and may lose her job. Not only is the “Jane Doe” in the lawsuit the mom of a trans child, she also is a DFPS investigator.
