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Maricopa County Judge Rules in Favor of Planned Parenthood

Certain parts of a new law placing restrictions on abortions were blocked by a judge in Maricopa Superior Court late yesterday afternoon.Planned Parenthood introduced the lawsuit earlier this month, after the bill was signed by Governor Jan Brewer.The law includes provisions that require women wait 24 hours between their initial in-person visit and...
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Certain parts of a new law placing restrictions on abortions were blocked by a judge in Maricopa Superior Court late yesterday afternoon.

Planned Parenthood introduced the lawsuit earlier this month, after the bill was signed by Governor Jan Brewer.

The law includes provisions that require women wait 24 hours between their initial in-person visit and having an abortion (called "informed consent") and a requirement that parental consent for a minor's abortion be notarized.

Judge Donald Daughton ruled in favor of a preliminary injunction that would block the implementation of the notarization requirement and that "informed consent" can be done over the telephone, rather than during an in person visit.

The law was supposed to take effect today, but the judge's decision prevents it from getting carried out until a federal court rules on its constitutionality.  

The decision also temporarily blocks another provision of the bill that would ban abortions carried out by nurse practitioners. 

At the end of the day, regardless of the judge's ruling, anyone who wants an abortion in Arizona can still get one.

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