Federal judge grants injunction on SD abortion law

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - A federal judge has granted Planned Parenthood's preliminary injunction to prevent a new South Dakota abortion law from taking effect while it's being challenged in court.

Chief Judge Karen Schreier issued the written ruling on Thursday.

The law, which would have taken effect Friday, requires women seeking abortions to face a three-day waiting period and undergo counseling at pregnancy help centers that discourage abortion.

The lawsuit says the law violates a woman's constitutional right to abortion established under the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.

Supporters of the measure say the Planned Parenthood clinic in Sioux Falls gives women little information or counseling before they have abortions done by doctors flown in from out of state. They say the bill would help make sure women are not being coerced into abortions by boyfriends or relatives.