⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

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

No. 25-50563 Argued August 31, 2026 Published September 5, 2026; updated October 9, 2026

The Fifth Circuit hears Fund Texas Choice versus Deski. The plaintiffs include abortion funds that help Texans travel to other states for abortion care, and a physician. After Roe was overturned, they feared prosecution under Texas's older abortion laws for assisting or providing care outside the state. They sued local prosecutors to protect that work. The district court initially let the challenge proceed, but later dismissed the claims against the prosecutors on sovereign-immunity grounds. This appeal asks whether the lawsuit can go forward.

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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