LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A federal judge says three Arkansas abortion restrictions she temporarily blocked will remain on hold while she considers a lawsuit challenging them.
U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker on Tuesday granted a preliminary injunction blocking the restrictions. Baker last month blocked the laws but that ruling was set to expire late Tuesday.
The laws include a measure prohbiting the procedure 18 weeks into pregnancy. They also include a requirement that doctors performing abortions be board-certified or board-eligible in obstetrics and gynecology. A Little Rock clinic that performs surgical abortions has one physician who meets that requirement, and he only works there a few days every other month.
Baker also blocked a law prohibiting doctors from performing an abortion if it’s being sought because the fetus was diagnosed with Down syndrome.
