A federal judge appointed by George W. Bush temporarily blocked the Mississippi abortion law this weekend. U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan in Jackson issued a temporary restraining order the day the new law took effect.
Reuters reported:
A federal judge on Sunday temporarily blocked Mississippi from enforcing a new law that requires doctors who perform abortions at the state’s sole abortion clinic to have admitting privileges at a local hospital.
The state law, challenged last week by the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, has threatened to make Mississippi the only U.S. state without an abortion clinic. It was set to take effect on Sunday.
U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Jordan entered a temporary restraining order and set a hearing for July 11 to determine whether it should be extended.
“In this case, plaintiffs have offered evidence — including quotes from significant legislative and executive officers — that the act’s purpose is to eliminate abortions in Mississippi,” Jordan found.
“They likewise submitted evidence that no safety or health concerns motivated its passage. This evidence has not yet been rebutted.”
