Judge’s order allows 2 abortion clinics to remain open

Two Tennessee abortion clinics will not have to shut down on Wednesday after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order.

The Tennessean reports U.S. District Judge Kevin Sharp issued an order on Friday that blocks the state from enforcing a new law requiring clinics to be licensed as ambulatory surgical treatment centers.

The clinics claimed in a hearing there was no way they could obtain the licenses in time to comply with the new law.

The ruling affects The Women’s Center in Nashville and the Bristol Regional Women’s Center.

The larger lawsuit includes a third clinic in Memphis and challenges two other abortion laws. One requires a 48-hour waiting period before abortions. Another requires physicians performing abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.