Abortion clinics in Little Rock and Fayetteville have been given the go-ahead to continue providing medication-induced abortions while the state appeals a preliminary order blocking a ban on the procedure.
After U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker issued an injunction July 2 preventing the state from enforcing a law that restricts the procedure, the state appealed to the 8th Circuit and asked the appellate court to "stay" Baker's order in the meantime.
But the 8th Circuit denied the stay request on Wednesday, Planned Parenthood announced Thursday.
Planned Parenthood sued the state in late 2015, just before Act 577 of 2015 was to take effect, to stop it from being enforced unless and until its constitutionality can be determined.
The law requires providers of medication abortions, which are administered through the ninth week of pregnancy, to have a signed contract with doctors who have hospital privileges, in the event of an emergency.
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