AUSTIN - A federal appeals panel on Thursday overturned a lower court decision that had deemed a portion of Texas' controversial sweeping abortion restrictions as unconstitutional.


Thursday's ruling gives Texas the green light to continue enforcing the provision on a permanent basis.

It also drew instant praise from Attorney General Greg Abbott, the Republican nominee for governor.

"We just won the HB2 case at 5th Circuit," Abbott tweeted. "Decision by unanimous female panel."

The American Civil Liberties Union, which fought against the law in court, called Thursday's decision disappointing.

"Texas women deserve better than to have extremist politicians endanger their health and safety by preventing them from accessing safe and legal abortion," said Brigitte Amiri, senior staff attorney with the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project. "The law is having a devastating impact on women in Texas, and the court should have struck it down."