July 30, 2012PHOENIX (AP) -- A federal judge is allowing Arizona's new ban on abortions starting at 20 weeks of pregnancy to take effect.
U.S. District Judge James Teilborg ruled Monday that the law doesn't impose substantial limits on abortions and that the state showed a legitimate interest in imposing the limits.
The ban is to take effect Thursday. It prohibits abortions starting at 20 weeks of pregnancy except in medical emergencies. That's a change from the current ban at viability, which is the ability to survive outside the womb and which is about 24 weeks.
Teilborg held a hearing Wednesday on a request from abortion-rights groups that he temporarily block enforcement.
Arizona is among 10 states that have enacted types of 20-week bans. Republican Gov. Jan Brewer signed the measure into law in April.
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