The Big Conversation:

A small surprise met the Texas abortion sonogram law's first day in federal court.

In June, the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights filed suit against the law, which requires doctors performing abortions to conduct a sonogram of the fetus and describe it in detail to the woman. Gov. Rick Perry signed the sonogram bill into law in May after Texas lawmakers passed it during the legislative session earlier this year.

As the Tribune's Chris Hooks reports, the courtroom twist arose Wednesday with the plaintiffs' decision against challenging the law on the usual grounds of ...

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