Federal Judge Extends Injunction Against Arkansas Abortion Laws

This week, a federal judge blocked three new abortion laws from going into effect in Arkansas. In her ruling to extend a temporary injunction against the laws, District Court Judge Kristine Baker stated that women would "suffer irreparable harm" if the laws were to go into effect. The laws would ban abortions after 18 weeks of pregnancy, except in instances of rape, incest, and medical emergency; require doctors who perform abortions be board-certified or eligible in obstetrics and gynecology, and ban abortions based solely on the diagnosis of Down syndrome. Judge Baker's original 14-day injunction was set to expire on August 6. With her extension of the injunction, the three laws will not go into effect until the legal challenges to the laws are resolved.