District Court Judge Amy Clark Meachum imposed a statewide temporary injunction on investigations by the Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS), stating it would stay in place until the case is completely litigated and settled by a judgment or other means. She scheduled a trial in the case to begin July 11.
The ruling came the same day that 60 companies - including Google, Apple, Microsoft and Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram - denounced the governor's directive in a full-page ad in the Dallas Morning News and called on state leaders to "abandon efforts to write discrimination into law."
WATCH: THE AG'S RAN ON "GETTING" TRUMP
"The recent effort to criminalize a parent for helping their transgender child access medically necessary, age-appropriate healthcare in the state of Texas goes against the values of our companies," reads the ad, which is called "Discrimination is bad for business."
WATCH: THE TIMING OF TRUMP'S TRIAL, WHY NOW?
"This policy creates fear for employees and their families, especially those with transgender children, who might now be faced with choosing to provide the best possible medical care for their children but risk having those children removed by child protective services for doing so. It's not just wrong, it has an impact on our employees, our customers, their families, and our work."
SECURITY IN OVERDRIVE: HOME DEPOT'S UNCONVENTIONAL RESPONSE TO NEW YORK'S CRIME CRISIS
Apple CEO Tim Cook further took to Twitter stressing he was "deeply concerned" regarding the directive and other claimed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being passed across the US.
WHO'S UP NEXT? BALTIMORE MAYOR NEXT TO PLAY IDENTITY POLITICS...
"As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, I am deeply concerned about laws being enacted across the country, particularly those focused on our vulnerable youth," he tweeted. "I stand with them and the families, loved ones, and allies who support them."
Meachum heard hours of testimony Friday in the lawsuit filed by the parents of a 16-year-old girl who were investigated over gender-confirming care their daughter got.
The parents sued over the investigation and Abbott's February directive that DFPS investigate reports of transgender youth getting gender-confirming care. The probe could remove trans children from families and jail parents who give them what he called procedures that "constitute child abuse."
MAN ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY SMASHING WINDOW TO INVADE THIS MAYOR'S HOME
The directive further called on doctors, nurses and teachers to report such care or face criminal penalties.
WHITE HOUSE WEIGHING GAME-CHANGING SHIFT IN IMMIGRATION POLICY
The lawsuit marked the first report of parents being investigated following Abbott's directive and an earlier non-binding legal opinion by Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton labeling certain gender-confirming care as "child abuse."
Abbott and his supporters claim he is attempting to keep impressionable youngsters safe from potentially irreversible medical treatments, though critics say said treatments are rare, and that denying such aid to transgender children can cause mental anguish.
DFPS has opened nine investigations since Abbott's directive and Paxton’s opinion.
Discover alternative ideas that will make you think
Engage in mind bending debate
Earn points, rise in rank, have fun
