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Fund Texas Choice v. Deski — 5th Cir. (argued August 31, 2026)

No. 25-50563 Argued August 31, 2026 Published September 5, 2026

The Fifth Circuit hears Fund Texas Choice versus Deski. Abortion funds and a physician seek protection from Texas prosecution for supporting or providing abortions in other states. The district court dismissed their claims against local prosecutors on sovereign-immunity grounds. This appeal asks whether that constitutional challenge can proceed.

Fund Texas Choice v. Deski (No. 25-50563) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, argued August 31, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/25/25-50563_08-31-2026.mp3
Case, argument date and advocates — Fifth Circuit recording index:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings/results?docket=25-50563
District-court dismissal — May 23, 2025, especially pp. 2, 5, 10–22:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-txwd-1_22-cv-00859/pdf/USCOURTS-txwd-1_22-cv-00859-4.pdf
Plaintiff's account of this appeal — Fund Texas Choice:https://fundtexaschoice.org/what-we-do/legal/
Appeal and counsel appearances — Fifth Circuit docket:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca5/25-50563
John Atkins — current firm biography:https://www.thompsoncoburn.com/people/john-p-atkins/
Counsel and firm corroboration — district-court reporter appearance list:https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/fund-texas-choice-v-1098785782
Heather Hacker — current firm biography:https://www.hackerstephens.com/heather-hacker
Hacker's firm corroboration — independently filed service affidavit (2021), p. 2:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/21/21-463/197749/20211027122919891_21-463_21-588%20Proof%20of%20Service.pdf
Officer-suit exception — Ex parte Young, pp. 155–160:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-209/pdf/USREPORTS-209-123.pdf
Prospective federal-law relief — Verizon Maryland, Part III:https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/00-1531.ZO.html
Fifth Circuit immunity and standing distinction — Mi Familia Vota v. Ogg, pp. 17–31:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/22/22-50732-CV0.pdf
Standing requirements — Lujan, pp. 560–561:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-504/pdf/USREPORTS-504-555.pdf
Standing requirements — Spokeo, pp. 338–339:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-578/pdf/USREPORTS-578-330.pdf

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