Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office has pursued civil action and backed criminal charges against Houston-area midwife Maria Margarita Rojas, accusing her of illegally providing abortions and practicing medicine without a license. Rojas is asking an appeals court to lift an injunction that has kept multiple clinics tied to her closed, arguing the state has not shown sufficient evidence.
In March 2025, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the arrest of Houston-area midwife Maria Margarita Rojas and said his office moved to shut down a network of clinics he alleged were providing unlawful abortions and practicing medicine without proper licensing. (texasattorneygeneral.gov)
A Waller County district judge later issued a temporary injunction barring Rojas and her staff from providing medical services at multiple clinics while the civil case proceeds. The number of affected locations has been described as at least three in Paxton’s press releases, while local reporting has said four clinics were covered by the injunction. (texasattorneygeneral.gov)
Rojas has appealed the injunction. In recent court proceedings, her lawyers argued the attorney general’s office did not present enough admissible evidence to prove an illegal abortion occurred, and that the trial court’s order lacked specific factual findings to justify the broad shutdown. (houstonchronicle.com)
The civil appeal and the criminal case are unfolding on separate tracks. Rojas has been accused of illegally performing abortions and practicing medicine without a license, allegations that Paxton’s office and other reporting have described as felony charges. (texasattorneygeneral.gov)
Even if an appeals court were to narrow or overturn the civil injunction, local reporting has said Rojas still would not be able to return to work immediately because her midwifery license has been suspended and her bond conditions restrict where she can go. (houstonchronicle.com)
Court filings and reporting on the investigation have described the state’s evidence as including an anonymous tip and information from a witness about treatment the witness received at one of the clinics. Rojas’ attorneys have argued that the state has not shown that what occurred was an illegal abortion rather than treatment connected to a miscarriage. (houstonchronicle.com)
Paxton’s office has also alleged that Rojas and others associated with the clinics used unlicensed staff who presented themselves as medical professionals. Rojas’ defense has disputed that characterization and has argued she was operating within the scope of lawful care. (houstonchronicle.com)
The case has drawn attention because prosecutions tied to abortion bans have been relatively uncommon since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, and because disputes over medical evidence and intent can be central to such investigations. (apnews.com)
No trial date has been publicly set for the underlying civil or criminal proceedings, according to recent reporting. (houstonchronicle.com)
