Des Moines, Iowa, Jun 1, 2018 / 10:28 am
An Iowa judge is temporarily blocking the state's newly-signed "heartbeat bill" from going into effect, he announced on Friday.
Judge Michael Huppert issued a temporary injunction against the law after a coalition of pro-abortion groups filed suit, saying it was unconstitutional.
The law, which bans abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat - usually around the sixth week of pregnancy - was signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) in early May. Limited exceptions for abortion would be allowed in cases of rape, incest, fetal abnormality, or to protect the health of the mother.
In a statement after signing the bill, Gov. Reynolds said that while there would likely be legal challenges to the law, she will "not back down."