North Carolina's Revised Abortion Law Takes Effect with Some Provisions Blocked

A federal judge in North Carolina has allowed nearly all of the state's revised 12-week abortion law to take effect, while temporarily blocking one rule that doctors feared could expose them to criminal penalties. The decision allows the law's remaining provisions to begin on Saturday, including a ban on most abortions after 12 weeks. Abortion providers had requested a blanket order halting all of the July 1 restrictions, arguing that the law was vague and contradictory. The judge directed that for at least the next two weeks, the state cannot enforce a rule requiring doctors to document the existence of a pregnancy within the uterus before conducting a medication abortion. Critics argue that the new restrictions will make it harder for low-income women and those in rural areas to obtain lawful abortions.