A federal judge in Kentucky issues an order to extend a prohibition on enforcing a new abortion law, meaning abortion services remain available in the state for now.
Activists demonstrate during a national day of protest Saturday in support of abortion rights in Louisville, Ky.A federal judge in Kentucky issued an order Thursday extending a prohibition on enforcing provisions of a new state law thatU.S. District Court Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings twice before issued short-term orders blocking enforcement while seeking answers to how parts of the 72-page statute would work.
Jennings said the law’s restrictions “are an undue burden to women seeking an abortion of a nonviable fetus” and violate the constitutional due process rights of women. Kentucky’s Republican-controlled legislature passed the law in March. It was vetoed by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, and the legislature then voted to override his veto. The law took effect April 13, but the judge temporarily blocked enforcement on April 21 and renewed her temporary order May 4.
The Supreme Court is now considering whether a Mississippi law that would ban abortion after 15 weeks is constitutional, a case that could result in a ruling overturning Roe v. Wade and follow-on decisions that prevent states from banning abortion before the age of fetal viability, about 23 weeks into a pregnancy.