Predictable, but still a sliver of good news: Wis. abortion rule delayed pending hearing

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order Monday evening to block enforcement of a new Wisconsin law that bans doctors who lack admitting privileges at nearby hospitals from performing abortions.

U.S. District Judge William Conley in Madison granted the order following a hearing in a lawsuit filed Friday by Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin and Affiliated Medical Services. It alleged the requirement would unconstitutionally restrict the availability of abortions in the state, violates the U.S. Constitution’s due-process guarantee and unconstitutionally treats doctors who perform abortions differently from those who perform other procedures.

The restraining order will remain in place pending a hearing July 17.

The bill was introduced in the legislature on June 4, passed nine days later and was signed into law Friday by Gov. Scott Walker (R). It took effect Monday. The law also requires women to obtain an ultrasound before getting an abortion, but that provision is not being challenged.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/national-digest/2013/07/08/5be769ae-e80a-11e2-aa9f-c03a72e2d342_story.html

The ultrasound rule is vile, but this one would shut down most abortion clinics in the state.