Alabama Abortion Laws Debated In Federal Court

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – A federal judge is considering whether to block two new Alabama abortion restrictions that ban clinics near schools and outlaw a common second trimester abortion procedure.

U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson began hearing testimony Tuesday. Testimony continues Wednesday.

Gov. Robert Bentley in May signed into law a ban on abortion clinics within 2,000 feet of public K-8 schools. He also approved a ban of a common second-trimester abortion procedure known as dilation & evacuation, or D&E.

The American Civil Liberties Union challenged the laws, arguing the location restriction would close the state’s two busiest abortion clinics and the procedure ban would largely end second-trimester abortion access.

The law was scheduled to take effect Aug. 1. Thompson in July issued a restraining order to block enforcement until after the October hearing.