US judge invalidates Biden rule protecting privacy for abortions

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

June 18, 2025 7:45 PM EDT Updated 11 hours ago


June 18 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Wednesday struck down a rule adopted by the administration of former President Joe Biden that strengthened privacy protections for women seeking abortions and patients who receive gender transition treatments.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas, said the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services exceeded its powers and unlawfully limited states' ability to enforce their public health laws when it adopted the rule last year. The rule prohibits healthcare providers and insurers from giving information about a legal abortion to state law enforcement authorities who are seeking to punish someone in connection with that abortion.

"HHS lacked clear delegated authority to fashion special protections for medical information produced by politically favored medical procedures," wrote Kacsmaryk, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, a Republican, during his first term.

Kacsmaryk in December had blocked HHS from enforcing the rule against a Texas doctor who had brought the lawsuit, Carmen Purl, pending the outcome of the case. Wednesday's decision blocks the rule nationwide. HHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-judge-invalidates-biden-rule-protecting-privacy-abortions-2025-06-18/

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Kacsmaryk's name has been conspicuously absent of late but he has now come roaring back. This is the type of case where the GOP loons would support and insist on judges being able to impose "nationwide injunctions", but only THEIR judges.

[Balatro]

1. They never seem upset with the injunctions their pet judge from the judge shopping court of choice does it.

Kacsmaryk only exists to rule how they want.

[Lonestarblue]

14. A judge who ignores the law and rules according to his personal religious beliefs.

Unfortunately, Trump will have the opportunity to appoint many more just like him. We badly need a Senate majority in 2026 or women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights will disappear.

[ms liberty]

2. Kacsmaryk is such a RWNJ.

And he's so obvious about it that I expect to see him someday get busted for kiddie porn, prostitution or outed for secretly being gay.

[catrose]

12. May it be soon!

[Timeflyer]

3. Kacsmaryk. Again. Targeting women's reproductive rights and LGBTQ. "Politically favored medical procedures..."

May his penis develop necrotizing fasciitis(flesh-eating bacteria). This is me being nice.

[mdbl]

4. Another case of an asshole judge who doesn't care about women's health

Of course it's Texas.

[mn9driver]

5. This judge is a one trick pony.

He exists to take away women’s control over their own bodies. It’s disgraceful that he is in this position.

[LymphocyteLover]

9. And the GOP steers cases specifically to him. He is a reason why I wouldn't be too upset if

SCOTUS struck down the ability of circuit courts to enact rulings that affect the whole country.

[Irish_Dem]

6. Why do American judges hate women?

[LymphocyteLover]

8. They are good Christians! They believe in life!

[RainCaster]

16. Not all judges, only GOP ones

The ones Leonard Leo installed.

[LymphocyteLover]

7. Kacsmaryk is a completely evil piece of shit

[mountain grammy]

10. Religious fanatics shouldn't be judges.

[ck4829]

11. But yet jury nullification is too much? Nullify these nonsense laws in the jury box if you can't vote them down!

[JT45242]

13. HIPAA laws would seem to apply...

It's a very heavy lift to get a warrant over doctor patient confidentiality.

Of course, in Texas constitutional protection only applies to Abbott, Paxton, and those who are bringing them.

[Bayard]

15. A woman's uterus should be an open book

[dlk]

17. So now, HIPAA only protects men's privacy?

Republicans want to enslave women’s bodies using reproductive issues. This is one major reason why American women still don’t have equal protection under the law in 2025.

It’s a Republican race back to the days of women as chattel. How far we have not come.