U.S. judge again blocks new Arkansas abortion restrictions

LITTLE ROCK — A federal judge in Little Rock has temporarily blocked four new abortion restrictions hours after they took effect in Arkansas, including one that bans a procedure commonly used in the second trimester.

U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker late Tuesday granted a temporary restraining order blocking the four laws, which took effect earlier in the day. The order is set to expire on Jan. 5, unless it is extended.

Baker had issued a similar ruling in 2017 blocking the four laws, but the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated that order in August, saying the case needed to be reconsidered in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision involving a Louisiana case.

"Arkansas has repeatedly prevailed when it has appealed similar rulings by Judge Baker and will ultimately do so again," Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said in a statement.

Read more: https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/arkansas/story/2020/dec/24/us-judge-again-blocks-new-arkansas-abortion-restrictions/853790/