Florida judge blocks Florida abortion ban, leaving local clinics in limbo

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Florida Circuit Court judge blocked Florida’s 15-week abortion ban Thursday in a temporary win for abortion-rights supporters.

“Unconstitutional in that it violates the privacy provision of the Florida constitution,” said Judge John Cooper.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

However, the judge said in court that he would not submit the written order Thursday, which means the ban will still go into effect Friday at midnight. That puts Florida clinics in a waiting period.

“We are pleased with the judge’s decision; however, we are still waiting on the written decision,” Kelly Flynn, the CEO of A Woman’s Choice in Jacksonville, said. “This now allows and grants patients to have the care that they should have and will receive at A Woman’s Choice.”

The clinic hopes the judge’s written order comes in the next couple of days. She said the clinic has seen an uptick in calls from patients in surrounding states with tighter restrictions.

“We’re noticing just in the last couple of hours that there’s a number of states and clinics filing injunctions and fighting back.”

Read: Judge temporarily blocks Florida’s 15-week abortion ban

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced plans to appeal the decision. It will eventually go before the Florida Supreme Court.

“It was not unanticipated. It was not, of course, something that we were happy to see. You know, when you talk about these unborn babies that have a heartbeat. They can feel pain,” he said during a news conference Thursday.

Some opponents of abortion are looking for a ban all together. Mary Huston volunteers at Rachel’s Vineyard. The ministry provides therapy to people after an abortion for emotional trauma.

“Whether we were pregnant for one week, one month, or nine months — what was taken from us was our children. We will stand with everyone,” Huston said. “This is an issue about helping our men and women heal from this greatest tragedy this country ever has had.”

Huston had an abortion herself at a young age and said she decided to speak up about the trauma it put her through.

“The reason this is going on is because people like me are willing to not be silent anymore. We’re willing to stand up through any shame or guilt.”

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.