LUBBOCK (Reuters) – Texas’s highest court temporarily blocked a child welfare investigation into the parents of a transgender 16-year old girl. The parents were accused of providing teen-affirming medical care that Gov Greg Abbott called child abuse.

In a suit challenging the directive of Abbott, the judge agreed with the family that the parents and their child face “imminent and ongoing deprivation, loss of medical care and stigma associated with being subject to an unfounded investigation into child abuse.”

Travis County District Judge Amy Clark Meachum issued a temporary restraining injunction that prohibits the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services from continuing the investigation beyond March 11. The judge will then hold a hearing to consider a request for a wider state-wide order.

Although he was born a male, the teen in question has been referred to as a female and is currently receiving transitional medical care that affirms his gender.

The mother of the teen is an employee at the DFPS. The agency asked her to be investigated.

The DFPS confirmed to Reuters Tuesday that it has opened at most three child welfare investigations subject to a February 22 directive by Abbott (a two term Republican), ordering investigations into parents whose children have undergone “sexchange” procedures.

Governor has quoted a Texas attorney general’s non-binding opinion dated February 18, which concluded that transgender youth could be subject to child abuse if they are given medical treatment.