Lawyers battle for abortion law to take effect

JACKSON, Miss (AP):Attorneys for the state of Mississippi are trying to persuade a federal judge to let a new restrictive abortion law take effect.

But lawyers representing the state's only abortion clinic are asking the judge to extend the temporary hold he put on the law.

The opposing sides filed their latest court documents last Friday, a deadline set by US District Judge Dan P. Jordan III.

Jordan issued an order last Sunday, stopping the state from immediately enforcing a law that requires physicians doing abortions at the clinic to have privileges to admit patients to a local hospital.

He holds a hearing next Wednesday to consider whether to extend that block.

The clinic argues the law will cause it irreparable harm. The state disagrees, saying the law is designed to protect patients.