Federal Judge Halts Law Defunding Ohio Planned Parenthood Clinics
U.S. District Judge Michael Barrett has granted a two-week stay, saying the law was enacted to make it difficult for women to obtain an abortion.
Reuters:
Judge Halts Ohio Law That Blocked Funds For Planned Parenthood
A federal judge in Cincinnati temporarily blocked the implementation of a state law that would have effectively de-funded 28 Ohio Planned Parenthood clinics, in a ruling on Monday. U.S. District Judge Michael Barrett granted a two-week stay halting the diversion of federal funding in a ruling on a May 11 lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio and Southwest Ohio. The Ohio law signed in February by Republican Governor John Kasich stripped $1.3 million in federal taxpayer funds from any healthcare organization that provides abortion services. The law was scheduled to go into effect on Monday. (Palmer, 5/23)
The Cincinnati DIspatch:
Judge Temporarily Blocks State From Axing Planned Parenthood Money
On Monday afternoon, Judge Michael R. Barrett in Cincinnati granted Planned Parenthood's request to delay the law. He granted a temporary restraining order, which will last until June 6. "There is also no doubt that the Ohio Legislature enacted (this law) for the purpose of placing a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking to obtain an abortion," Barrett wrote in the order. (Balmert, 3/23)
The Columbus Dispatch:
Judge Blocks State Law Defunding Planned Parenthood
Ruling that Planned Parenthood had demonstrated a "likelihood of success" in the courts, Barrett granted a temporary restraining order through June 6 in ordering the state to reinstate its terminated contracts with the group. For more than 20 years, Planned Parenthood — which offers abortions at three of its 28 Ohio clinics — received federal grants and state money to offer non-abortion programs such as breast and cervical cancer screening, sexually-transmitted-disease testing, a Healthy Moms-Healthy Babies program and other services. But lawmakers voted early this year to terminate funding, for any purpose, to any abortion provider. (Ludlow, 5/23)
In other Planned Parenthood news from the states —
The Associated Press:
Judge: Noise Ordinance Can't Be Used Vs. Abortion Protests
Law enforcement authorities cannot use a noise provision in the Maine Civil Rights Act to restrict anti-abortion protesters outside a clinic in Portland, a federal judge ruled Monday. U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen ruled in favor of a Lewiston pastor who said his rights were violated and that he was targeted because of his views. The Rev. Andrew March sued after the attorney general used the state law to prevent a church member from getting too close to the Planned Parenthood clinic. (5/23)
New Orleans Times-Picayune:
Senate Passes Bill To Bar Public Funding To Abortion Providers
A bill to bar public funding for entities that provide abortions, legislation that could be used to prevent Planned Parenthood from opening an abortion clinic in New Orleans, passed the full Senate on Monday (May 23). The bill now heads to the desk of Gov. John Bel Edwards. (Litten, 5/23)