By AP/KWMU
Kansas City, Mo. – A federal judge has agreed to block enforcement of a new Missouri law aimed at increasing regulation of abortion clinics.
U.S. District Judge Ortrie Smith granted a request from Planned Parenthood for a temporary injunction.
Planned Parenthood says the law would infringe on abortion rights because it would have to halt abortions at its Columbia and Kansas City offices.
Missouri already requires abortion facilities to be licensed, but the current definition of an abortion facility applies to only one Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis.
The new law was to take effect Tuesday (8/28).
The judge says he will hold a hearing September 10 to decide whether to make the injunction permanent.