Federal judge again blocks Arkansas medication abortion law

Source: Associated Press


Kelly P. Kissel, Associated Press
Updated 6:52 pm, Monday, June 18, 2018

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A federal judge on Monday again blocked Arkansas from enforcing a law that critics say makes the state the first in the nation to effectively ban abortion pills.

U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker granted a 14-day temporary restraining order preventing Arkansas from enforcing the restriction on how abortion pills are administered. The law says doctors who provide the pills must hold a contract with a physician with admitting privileges at a hospital who agrees to handle any complications.

The U.S. Supreme Court last month rejected Planned Parenthood's appeal to reinstate Baker's earlier order blocking the law. Planned Parenthood said its two facilities and another unaffiliated clinic in Little Rock have stopped offering medication abortions because of the restriction.

Even with justices saying as recently as three weeks ago that Arkansas could enforce the law, Baker said Monday that circumstances have changed since her initial ruling.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Federal-judge-again-blocks-Arkansas-medication-13005159.php