CNA Staff, Jul 27, 2020 / 18:00 pm
After issuing a temporary injunction against a Tennessee law that would ban abortion in most circumstances, U.S. District Judge William Campbell blocked on Friday the law from taking effect while it is being challenged in court.
Campbell cited imprecision in the bill's language as well as the likelihood that portions of it would be found unconstitutional in court as reasons for issuing the additional injunction against it while litigation is ongoing. The Tennessee Senate passed a bill banning abortions on June 19 by a 23-5 party line vote.
The legislation bans abortion after the point at which a fetal heartbeat can be detected - as early as six weeks into pregnancy. The bill also has a provision would automatically enact a ban on abortion at ten different stages of pregnancy, should the heartbeat portion of the bill be struck down in court.
It also banned abortions that were sought on the basis of race, sex, or a diagnosis of Down syndrome.