OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - An Oklahoma judge has temporarily blocked a new anti-abortion law that would ban a second-trimester abortion procedure, but declined to halt a second law that increases the waiting period for women seeking an abortion.
Oklahoma County District Court Judge Patricia Parrish delivered her split ruling Wednesday after hearing oral arguments from both sides.
The New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights challenged both new laws on behalf of a Tulsa-based clinic that is the only licensed facility in the state that provides second-trimester abortion procedures.
An appeal of both of the judge's rulings is likely, and Parrish says she expects the case to end up before the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
Both laws were passed overwhelmingly by the Republican-controlled Legislature earlier this year and are scheduled to take effect Nov. 1.
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