Planned Parenthood, ACLU ask judge to block Missouri abortion ban

Opponents of a Missouri abortion ban will head to court Monday to ask a judge to prevent the ban from going into effect this week.

Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) will ask U.S. District Judge Howard Sachs to block the legislation, which bans abortions at eight weeks of pregnancy, according to The Associated Press.

ACLU spokeswoman Lauren Weiner confirmed to The Hill in a statement that the organization is in court Monday and will ask for an injunction during the hearing. 

{mosads}The law is slated to go into effect Wednesday. 

A Planned Parenthood spokesperson also confirmed there was a hearing Monday.

The groups filed a suit over the law last month and asked for both declaratory and injunctive relief on behalf of themselves and their patients. 

The lawsuit’s complaint said the ban would prevent the “vast majority of patients from obtaining the constitutionally protected medical care they seek.”

“As a result, some patients will be prevented from obtaining abortion care entirely, and be forced to carry their pregnancies to term against their will — for some, even in the face of significant health risks that nevertheless would not qualify as a ‘medical emergency’ under the Bans,” the filing said. 

The Missouri law, passed this year amid a wave of other anti-abortion measures passed in other states, includes an exception for medical emergencies, but not for rape or incest.

Missouri state attorneys argue that courts have allowed similar laws in other states though measures in Iowa and North Dakota have been struck down, according to The Associated Press.

Missouri has some of the most restrictive abortion policies in the nation and currently only has one clinic operating in the state that performs abortions.

Updated at 12:07 p.m.