Okla. Judge Denies State Request To Set Aside Temporary Restraining Order On Abortion Law

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Litigation / Medical Malpractice;  Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 03 Nov 2009 - 2:00 PST

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Oklahoma District Judge Twyla Mason Gray on Thursday denied a motion by the state to set aside a temporary restraining order she issued on Oct. 21 blocking the enforcement of a state law that would require abortion providers to report personal information on women who obtain the procedure, the AP/KSWO reports. The law had been set to take effect on Nov. 1 (AP/KSWO, 10/30).

The law requires doctors to report to the state a woman's age, marital status, education level and the nature of the relationship with her partner. It also requires information regarding previous pregnancies, reasons the woman is seeking an abortion, and the cost and method of payment for the procedure. The information would be aggregated and posted on a state-run public Web site, excluding the names of the women. The law also would prohibit abortion based on the gender of the fetus, redefine certain abortion-related terminology and establish new responsibilities for some state agencies (Women's Health Policy Report, 10/22).

Two Oklahoma residents and the Center for Reproductive Rights filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction against the law. The suit argues that the bill violates a state constitutional requirement that legislative measures deal with a single subject. A hearing on the injunction is scheduled for Dec. 4 (AP/KSWO, 10/30).

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