Utah judge delays implementing statewide abortion clinic ban

A Utah judge ruled Tuesday that a recently passed state law banning abortion clinics cannot take effect next week, when it was scheduled to take effect, while the court deliberates over a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood.

Judge Andrew Stone's decision to grant Planned Parenthood's request will allow the four clinics that provide abortions in Utah to remain licensed to operate fully. The law would have stopped abortion clinics from obtaining licenses on May 3 and fazed out existing ones by next year.

Planned Parenthood argued the law would have effectively ended access to abortion throughout Utah, where clinics provide 95% of abortions.