Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Wisconsin Abortion Law

Law Would Have Closed Half of State's Abortion Clinics

July 8, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: 212-549-2666, media@aclu.org

MADISON, Wis. – A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order today for a Wisconsin law that places medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion providers and would severely restrict women's access to safe and legal abortion in a state where access is already heavily restricted. Two of only four health centers providing safe and legal abortion today could be forced to close.

The law was challenged last week by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Wisconsin, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.

"We're thankful that the judge has put the brakes on a dangerous law that was rammed through the legislature with no thought to the health and well-being of Wisconsin women and families," said Larry Dupuis, legal director of the ACLU of Wisconsin.

"Politicians in Wisconsin and across the country need to get the message that it is unlawful to arbitrarily prevent a woman from making the best decision for her family," said Talcott Camp, deputy director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project. "We'll continue to fight this law and others like it around the country to stop this insidious campaign to outlaw safe and legal abortions."

For more information on this case, please visit:
aclu.org/reproductive-freedom/planned-parenthood-wisconsin-v-van-hollen