Judge halts Mississippi abortion law
By Jacqueline Thomsen - 05/24/19 04:29 PM EDTA federal judge on Friday blocked a Mississippi law that banned abortions once a fetus's heartbeat is detected, as early as six weeks into pregnancy.
Judge Carlton Reeves, an Obama appointee, wrote that the law "threatens immediate harm to women’s rights, especially considering most women do not seek abortion services until after 6 weeks."
"This injury outweighs any interest the state might have in banning abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat," he wrote.
The law was set to go into effect on July 1.
Reeves had reportedly expressed anger and frustration during a court hearing on the law earlier this week. CNN reported Tuesday that the judge was upset over the rule not including exemptions for rape or incest.
Reeves reportedly pointed out that he struck down a 15-week ban on abortions just six months ago, saying the state legislature's even stricter law "smacks of defiance." . . .
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/445484-judge-halts-mississippi-abortion-law
In his
eight-page order, the judge does not reference the Constitution a single time.
