A federal judge on Thursday again temporarily blocked a state law that effectively eliminated abortions in Kentucky after the state’s two remaining clinics said they couldn’t meet its requirements.
This marks the second temporary injunction blocking enforcement of the law following a similar injunction issued last month. That injunction was extended earlier this month to May 19 after Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings heard arguments from Planned Parenthood and the ACLU.
House Bill 3 bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy and requires women to be examined by a doctor before receiving abortion pills. Clinics would also be fined and penalized for noncompliance of the new requirements.
Clinics filed a lawsuit stating the requirements were so tough that it would practically end all abortions in the state.
“We are grateful the court recognized the constitutional infirmities with HB3 and granted a preliminary injunction,” Heather Gatnarek, staff attorney of ACLU of Kentucky, said in a release. “With the court’s order, EMW Women’s Surgical Center can continue to provide abortions to people in Kentucky as they have done for decades. Patients seeking abortions should reach out directly to EMW or Planned Parenthood to get their questions answered and schedule their care. Abortion remains legal and available in Kentucky and we will always fight to keep it that way.”
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
