Judge Temporarily Blocks Louisiana Abortion Law

A federal judge has temporarily blocked a new abortion law in Louisiana. The law would require abortion clinics to have hospital admitting privileges within 30 miles of their facilities.

Lawyers and advocates disagree on whether the judge's order affects all five abortion clinics in the state or just the three clinics involved in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit claims doctors haven't had enough time to obtain the privileges and the law likely would close all five clinics.

U.S. District Judge John DeGravelles ordered that "any enforcement" of the law is forbidden until a hearing takes place.

However, his next sentences states that the law will go into effect, but plaintiffs cannot be penalized for practicing without admitting privileges during this period while their applications are still pending.

The law was signed June 12, and State Health and Hospitals Secretary Kathy Kliebert filed two statements saying that the law won't be enforced against any doctors who can show they submitted applications for admitting privileges during the 81 days between when it was signed Monday.