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Judge faces deadline for decision on Indiana abortion law

FILE - In this April 9, 2016, file photo, hundreds of abortion rights supporters gather at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis to protest an anti-abortion law signed by Gov. Mike Pence, that is among the most restrictive in the U.S. U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt has said she will issue a ruling before Friday, July 1, when the law adopted this year by the GOP-dominated Legislature is set to take effect. (Mykal McEldowney/The Indianapolis Star via AP, File) FILE - In this April 9, 2016, file photo, hundreds of abortion rights supporters gather at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis to protest an anti-abortion law signed by Gov. Mike Pence, that is among the most restrictive in the U.S. U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt has said she will issue a ruling before Friday, July 1, when the law adopted this year by the GOP-dominated Legislature is set to take effect. (Mykal McEldowney/The Indianapolis Star via AP, File)

By Associated Press June 30, 2016 1 min read

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – A federal judge is facing a deadline for deciding whether to block a new Indiana law banning abortions sought because of fetal genetic abnormalities.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt has said she will issue a ruling before Friday, when the law adopted this year by the GOP-dominated Legislature is set to take effect.

Indiana and North Dakota are the only states with laws banning abortions that are sought due to fetal genetic abnormalities, such as Down syndrome, or because of the race, gender or ancestry of a fetus. The Indiana law also requires aborted fetuses be buried or cremated.

Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana sued the state in April, saying the law is unconstitutional and violates women’s privacy rights. Pratt heard arguments June 14.