Judge to halt Oklahoma abortion law
BY BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
Monday, May 03, 2010
5/03/10 at 5:36 PM
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OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma County District Judge Noma Gurich on Monday put a controversial ultrasound abortion law on hold.
Gurich said the plaintiffs and the state agreed to put the law on hold pending the outcome of the case.
Reproductive Services in Tulsa and Dr. Larry A. Burns, who practices in Norman, sued the state following the Legislature's override of Gov. Henry's veto of House Bill 2780.
The measure would require women seeking an abortion to have an ultrasound within an hour of the procedure and have its findings explained to her. The law went into effect immediately after the override last week.
Gurich set a July 19 hearing on a motion for a temporary injunction.
Plaintiffs allege the measure is unconstitutional.
Tony Lauinger, Oklahomans for Life state chairman, said he was sorry to see the implementation of the law be delayed.
"We believe women greatly benefit from the information an ultrasound provides," Lauinger said. "This has been a long process and apparently it will be a little bit longer."
Lauinger said he believes the law will withstand the legal challenge.
"The abortion industry would like to hide the truth from women about their unborn children," Lauinger said.
