Federal Judge Blocks Enforcement of Louisiana's New Abortion Law

BATON ROUGE, La. (TheBlaze/AP) — Enforcement of Louisiana's new abortion law has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge.

The law can still take effect Monday but officials cannot penalize doctors or clinics for breaking it while a challenge is heard, District Judge John deGravelles said.

The law would require doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges to a hospital within 30 miles of their clinics. A Center for Reproductive Rights lawsuit claims doctors haven't had enough time to obtain privileges and the law likely would force Louisiana's five abortion clinics to close.

DeGravelles said doctors' risks of fines and losing licenses outweighs any injury to the state from keeping the status quo. He noted the state health secretary said she won't enforce the law against a doctor whose hospital application is still undecided.

Here's a repot that aired just before the judge's decision: