Judge puts Alabama abortion law on hold

Judge puts Alabama abortion law on hold

Alabama’s restrictive new abortion law is on hold after U.S. District Court Judge Myron Thompson issued a preliminary injunction Oct. 29. 

The Alabama Human Life Protection Act, signed May 15 by Gov. Kay Ivey, criminalizes performing an abortion in Alabama by making it a felony in almost all cases. The law would have gone into effect Nov. 15.

Abortion rights groups and providers filed a challenge to the law in May saying it would result in a near-total ban on abortion.

Ivey called the bill “unenforceable” because of Roe v. Wade, but supporters hope the law could be the basis for the Supreme Court to reconsider and ultimately overturn the 1971 ruling that legalized abortion in the U.S. (TAB)