SUPREME COURT FEBRUARY 1, 2019 / 6:35 PM / UPDATED 31 MINUTES AGO

U.S. high court temporarily blocks Louisiana abortion restrictions

Lawrence Hurley
4 MIN READ

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday temporarily prevented a Louisiana law imposing strict regulations on abortion clinics from taking effect in a case that presents a key test on the contentious issue following last year’s retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, a pivotal supporter of abortion rights.

A one-page order issued by Justice Samuel Alito said that “the justices need time to review” the various court filings before making a decision on the emergency application filed by Shreveport-based abortion provider Hope Medical Group for Women to block the law.

Alito said that the restrictions, which were to go into effect on Monday, will be put on hold until at least Feb. 7.

Hope Medical Group challenged the law’s requirement that doctors who perform abortions must have a difficult-to-obtain formal relationship called “admitting privileges” at a hospital within 30 miles (48 km) of where the procedure would be performed.

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