Judge blocks Utah’s ban on abortion clinics from taking effect

A Utah decide has blocked the state’s ban on abortion clinics, the day earlier than it was supposed to begin taking impact.

The grievance was geared toward Home Invoice 467, which was signed by Republican Gov. Spencer Cox in March. The legislation bans abortion clinics from working within the state starting subsequent yr, however permits abortions to be carried out till 18 weeks of being pregnant at a hospital.

Underneath that legislation, Utah was scheduled to cease granting licenses for abortion clinics after Could 2 and abortion clinics would have been prohibited from working within the state on or after January 1, 2024, “or the final legitimate date of an abortion clinic license issued … whichever date is later.”

Third District Decide Andrew Stone agreed with Deliberate Parenthood Affiliation of Utah that the legislation was discriminatory in opposition to abortion clinics.

“The Clinic Ban locations a larger burden on licensed abortion clinics by criminalizing abortions carried out in such clinics regardless of the unrebutted proof that abortions carried out in an outpatient clinic are equally as secure as these carried out in a hospital,” Stone wrote. “(Deliberate Parenthood) has superior a factual report supporting the conclusion that the Legislature’s classification is unreasonable and seems to single out abortion clinics with none justification.”

In an announcement, Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Deliberate Parenthood Federation of America, stated the group was “grateful that the courtroom has blocked this extraordinarily dangerous legislation and granted much-needed reduction to Utahns in want of abortion care earlier than it took impact.”

CNN has reached out to the governor’s workplace for remark.