Judges in Louisiana, Utah issue temporary order stopping immediate ban on abortion, 'trigger laws'

A similar ruling was issued Monday in Louisiana, another state with an abortion "trigger law."
Judge's gavel
By Sophie Mann

A judge in Utah has granted a restraining order that will block for 14 days the state's abortion "trigger law."

Judge Andrew Stone of the 3rd District granted Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah's request for a temporary injunction following an emergency hearing Monday.

Utah's abortion trigger law was passed in 2020 and was contingent upon Roe v. Wade being overturned by the Supreme Court, which the court did Friday.

The law bans abortions in the state with exceptions for rape or incest, the health and safety of the mother, or fetal viability. 

Also on Monday, a judge in Louisiana, which also has an abortion trigger law, issued a similar ruling.

About a dozen other U.S. states have also passed trigger laws similar to Louisiana and Utah's.

In Utah, Judge Stone said in making the decision: "The immediate effects that will occur outweigh any policy interest of the state in stopping abortions immediately. Doctors here are threatened with felonies. Affected women are deprived of safe, local medical treatments to terminate pregnancies."

The office for Utah GOP Gov. Spencer Cox said the governor won't comment for now on the litigation but will watch carefully as the legal process unfurls.