Mississippi Law Aimed at Abortion Clinic Is Blocked
A federal judge on Sunday night temporarily blocked the State of Mississippi from closing its last remaining abortion clinic, which was the target of a new law designed to limit abortions.
Critics of the law said it would force women to drive hundreds of miles out of state to get an abortion, but it has the strong backing of Gov. Phil Bryant, who has publicly stated that he would like to see his state be “abortion-free.”
The law was scheduled to go into effect on Monday — almost certainly forcing the clinic, the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, to close — so supporters of the clinic asked the courts to intervene.
Judge Daniel P. Jordan III of Federal District Court issued a ruling late Sunday that temporarily blocked the new law from taking effect. He scheduled a hearing on the matter for July 11.
“Though the debate over abortion continues, there exists legal precedent the court must follow,” Judge Jordan wrote.
The injunction was hailed by supporters of abortion rights.
New York Times
7/1/12
