La. Blocked from Enforcing Parts of Abortion Law

[MountainLaurel]

Some good news for once . . . many thanks to the Center for Reproductive Rights

A federal judge has temporarily barred Louisiana state officials from enforcing part of a new law that requires women getting abortions to have an ultrasound exam.

Women won't have to view the ultrasound or receive a copy of it while a temporary restraining order issued today by U.S. District Judge Ralph Tyson in Baton Rouge remains in effect for up to two weeks.

A lawsuit filed last week by the Center for Reproductive Rights claims the ultrasound requirement is "unconstitutionally vague" because it doesn't specify whether abortion providers must force women to view or accept copies of their ultrasound.

Tyson's order also temporarily allows doctors to perform abortions without giving patients copies of certain printed material required by the new law. Stephanie Toti, a lawyer for the center, said doctors were in danger of violating the law because the state hasn't distributed the material yet.

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/08/la_blocked_from_enforcing_part.html