Louisiana Trigger Bans Blocked After Challenge by the Center and Partners
Louisiana abortion providers can resume providing care after bans are temporarily blocked.

A state court judge today blocked Louisiana’s “trigger” abortion bans hours after the Center for Reproductive Rights and its partners filed a lawsuit challenging the laws. Intended to take effect if the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade—which it did on Friday—the Louisiana laws would have criminalized all abortion care in the state.
The temporary restraining order allows Louisiana abortion clinics to resume providing care.
Which states are expected to ban abortion?
“What if Roe fell?” Interactive Tool
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, half the U.S. states are expected to ban abortion. Find out more by exploring this interactive tool.
On June 24, the U.S. Supreme Court paved the way for states to ban abortion when it announced its decision to abandon almost 50 years of precedent and take away the constititional right to abortion. The ruling came in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case challenging a Mississippi abortion ban.
The Louisiana lawsuit filed today by the Center and Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, with local counsel Ellie Schilling, requested emergency relief from the state’s laws on behalf of Hope Medical Group for Women and its Administrator, Kathaleen Pittman, and Medical Students for Choice.
The lawsuit argued that the state’s “trigger” laws were unconstitutionally vague since it was not clear whether any of the three trigger bans are in effect, and if so, which one was in effect; and what conduct would be prohibited, including if there were exceptions for doctors to perform abortions to save the life of the pregnant person. In addition. state and local officials in Louisiana had issued conflicting statements about the laws after the Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday.
A hearing is scheduled for July 8 in this case, June Medical Services v. Landry, for the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction against the laws.
“We will be fighting to restore access in Louisiana and other states for as long as we can,” said the Center’s Nancy Northup, president and CEO. “Every day that a clinic is open and providing abortion services can make a difference in a person’s life.”
More Lawsuits Filed Today Challenging State Abortion Bans
In addition to the Louisiana lawsuit, the Center and its partners today filed challenges to a pre-Roe abortion ban in Texas and a trigger ban in Mississippi.
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