A federal judge on Tuesday halted a Mississippi law prohibiting doctors from performing abortions after 15 weeks in pregnancy, less than a day after its governor signed the measure into law.
U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves granted a temporary restraining order following a lawsuit filed immediately after Republican Gov. Phil Bryant signed the measure into law Monday — meaning the law is ineffective, according to ABC News. Jackson Women’s Health Organization owner Diane Derzis, who runs the only remaining abortion clinic in Mississippi, filed the suit.
The restraining order comes after Mississippi became the first state to pass such a restrictive abortion law. Bryant signed House Bill 1510, which bans women from having abortions after 15 weeks gestation unless the unborn baby is not expected to live outside the womb or if continuing the pregnancy jeopardizes the woman’s life.
“It’s a great day in Mississippi,” Republican Miss. Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves tweeted Monday after the law passed.
A woman past 15 weeks pregnant is scheduled for a Tuesday afternoon abortion, according to Jackson Women’s Health Organization’s Dr. Sacheen Carr-Ellis. The patient will be able to proceed with the abortion now that House Bill 1510 has been blocked.
Currently, no states ban abortion before 20 weeks of pregnancy.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.