Court sides with Utah’s Planned Parenthood in defunding case

FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2015, file photo, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert speaks to reporters during a news conference at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City. A federal appeals court is ordering Utah to continue sending money to the state branch of Planned Parenthood, overturning an earlier ruling that allowed the governor to defund the organization. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2015, file photo, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert speaks to reporters during a news conference at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City. A federal appeals court is ordering Utah to continue sending money to the state branch of Planned Parenthood, overturning an earlier ruling that allowed the governor to defund the organization. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

By Associated Press July 13, 2016 3 min read

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – The Utah governor’s order to block funding to Planned Parenthood was probably a political move designed to punish the group, a federal appeals court wrote in an ruling that ordered the state to keep the money flowing.

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver decided Tuesday there’s a good chance the governor’s order violated the group’s constitutional rights.

Republican Gov. Gary Herbert cut off cash last fall for sexually transmitted disease and sex education programs following the release of secretly recorded videos showing out-of-state employees discussing fetal tissue from abortions.

The head of the Planned Parenthood Association of Utah hailed the ruling as a victory for the clinic’s patients.

“Our doors are open today and they will be tomorrow – no matter what,” CEO Karrie Galloway said in a statement.