A federal judge Tuesday again blocked the state from enforcing a package of abortion laws.
The laws, which place new regulations on abortion practices, took effect Tuesday morning after a yearslong legal fight, but, for now, those statutes are on hold after U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker issued a two-week restraining order.
The ruling comes after the American Civil Liberties Union, representing abortion providers in Arkansas, asked Baker to block the restrictions. It is the latest order in the legal fight over abortion laws that the state Legislature passed in 2017.
"We're relieved these harmful and unconstitutional restrictions have once again been blocked by the courts," Holly Dickson, executive director of the ACLU of Arkansas, said in a statement. "These laws would decimate access to abortion in Arkansas at a time when families are already struggling to get care.
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