Wisconsin's New Abortion Law Blocked Again By Judge

A new state law that requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals has been put on hold at least until November by a federal judge.

U.S. District Judge William Conley on Friday again temporarily blocked the controversial law from taking effect until a trial in November that will determine if the law is constitutional, the Journal Sentinel reported. 

In his 44-page decision, Conley said the state can put limits on abortions when there is a government interest in doing so, such as protecting the health of a woman, but the state is unlikely to succeed in doing so in this case, the newspaper said.

Conley added the law also puts an undue burden on women seeking abortions because it would close two of the state's four abortion clinics, according to the Journal Sentinel.

The controversial measure, which was signed into law by Gov. Scott Walker in July 5, requires every doctor who performs an abortion at a clinic to have staff privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of that clinic, a move that opponents say will severely restrict women’s access to safe and legal abortions. Two of the state's four facilities that perform abortions could close, opponents say.

Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit the day Walker signed the bill to try to block that provision from taking effect. Conley issued a temporary restraining preventing that portion from being enforced and he extended that order twice since. On Friday, placed a preliminary injunction that will block the law until a Nov. 25 trial is held, the Journal Sentinel said.

A portion of the law that requires women to have ultrasounds before undergoing abortions is not being challenged and has gone into effect.