Judge temporarily stops abortion clinic shutdown
A federal judge in Louisville has temporarily blocked the effort of Gov. Matt Bevin's administration to shut down Kentucky's last abortion provider.
The order issued Friday by U.S. District Judge Greg Stivers follows a lawsuit by EMW Women's Surgical Center in Louisville seeking to block the state's effort to close the clinic over alleged deficiencies in its license.
"It's good news for the patients," said Donald L. Cox, a lawyer for the EMW clinic, which the state had ordered to close by Monday. "We're open as usual."
The order came as a surprise to Cox and to the cabinet since the parties had not yet had a hearing to discuss the case with the judge. Stivers said in his order that prior notice is not necessary in a case where facts "clearly show" that harm, irreparable injury or damage will occur before a hearing can be held.
Read more: http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2017/03/31/judge-temporarily-stops-abortion-clinic-shutdown/99874242/