Federal Judge Strikes Down Restrictions in North Carolina's Abortion Ban

A federal judge has blocked two provisions of a near-total ban on abortions after 12 weeks in North Carolina, ruling in favor of advocacy groups. The judge found that one provision was unconstitutionally vague, while the other lacked medical evidence. The blocked provisions included a requirement for surgical abortions after 12 weeks to take place exclusively in hospitals and a mandate for doctors to document the location of early pregnancies with ultrasound evidence before prescribing a medication abortion. The judge's order is seen as a step forward in fighting against harmful abortion bans, according to the plaintiffs.