Tough Abortion Law Put on Hold

PHILADELPHIA — A federal appeals court judge stopped Pennsylvania’s tough abortion law from taking effect until Dec. 12 while abortion rights groups wait for the U.S. Supreme Court to consider the law.

The one-sentence order Tuesday by Judge Walter Stapleton of the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals responded to a Planned Parenthood request for a stay of the appeals court’s Oct. 21 ruling, which upheld most parts of the law.

Pennsylvania’s law requires women to wait 24 hours after receiving doctors’ advice about the potential medical dangers of abortion and requires parental consent for minors, among other provisions. It is considered the most likely case that could be used by the Supreme Court to decide whether to overturn Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortions.

Bob Gentzel, spokesman for state Atty. Gen. Ernie Preate, said the order will effectively prevent the law from taking effect until the Supreme Court considers Planned Parenthood’s appeal.

Once the lower court receives official notice of that appeal, Gentzel said, the abortion law will not take effect until the Supreme Court considers it. Tuesday’s order covers the interim time period before that automatic stay.