Abortion

BREAKING: Mississippi Judge Continues to Block TRAP Law

Judge Jordan rules to extend the temporary restraining order preventing H.B. 1390 from going into effect.

District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III has ruled that a temporary restraining order issued on H.B. 1390, the Mississippi TRAP law that would close down the state’s only clinic, shall remain in effect for now.

Via the Associated Press:

A federal judge on Wednesday decided to continue to block a state law that threatened to shut down Mississippi’s only abortion clinic and make it nearly impossible for a woman to get the procedure in the state.

U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III temporarily blocked the law July 1 and extended that order Wednesday, though he did not immediately say how long it would last.

According to legal analyst Jessica Mason Pieklo, an indefinite extension on a temporary restraining order generally means that the judge does not feel that he has had enough time consider the evidence in light of the law to make a complete ruling. “Because there’s the possibility of significant injustice if he’s wrong, he needs to prevent the law from going into effect while he considers it,” said Pieklo. “The law doesn’t give him any other choice.”

The Center for Reproductive Rights, which is representing the clinic in the suit against the state, confirms this is the case, stating that the Department of Health released new rules prior to the hearing. “The judge stated that he would rule on the preliminary injunction after he had an opportunity to consider new rules that the state DOH promulgated this morning. Until he issues his order, he has extended the existing temporary restraining order.”

We will have more information as it becomes available.