A Federal Court Blocks an Alabama Law Restricting Abortions

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked a 2016 law banning the procedure, which is the most common method of second-trimester abortion.
Protesters hold up placards during the London March for Choice, calling for the legalising of abortion in Ireland after the referendum announcement, outside the Embassy of Ireland in central London on September 30, 2017. Tens of thousands are expected at a rally for abortion rights in Dublin on September 30, campaigning on one side of a fierce debate after Ireland announced it will hold a referendum on the issue next year.

A federal appeals court in Atlanta ruled on Wednesday against an Alabama law that would have banned a procedure known as dilation and evacuation (D&E) abortion, the Associated Press reports.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the 2016 law banning the procedure, which is the most common method of second-trimester abortion. Banning D&E abortion would effectively ban abortion in the state after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Shortly after its passage, the law was challenged by the West Alabama Women’s Center and Alabama Women’s Center, the only abortion clinics in the state that perform the procedure, according to Reuters. The American Civil Liberties Union represented the clinics.

In a tweet on Wednesday, the ACLU called the procedure “extremely safe,” and vowed to keep fighting for women’s health.

Similar laws have been blocked in five other states, including Texas and Arkansas.

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