A federal judge blocked from going into effect a new Kentucky state law that was so obtrusive it effectively banned all abortions in the state, the Associated Press reports.
U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings ruled that the state had not issued clear guidelines on what was needed to constitute a legal abortion or about new paperwork the law required. Because of that, the law made it impossible to comply with itself, so the law could only be in force when the state issues those cited guidelines. Jennings, who was a Trump appointee, did not block the law from being enacted after guidelines are issued.
In the meantime, the two abortion clinics in the state will reopen their doors when the rules go through the state legislative process and future legal challenges. “This is a win, but it is only the first step,” said Rebecca Gibron, the CEO for Planned Parenthood in Kentucky, where its clinic is immediately resuming abortion services. “We’re prepared to fight for our patients’ right to basic health in court and to continue doing everything in our power in ensure abortion access is permanently secured in Kentucky.”