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Judge sets Sept. 30 conference on La. abortion law

by Patrick Flanagan

U.S. District Judge John deGravelles has scheduled a status conference Sept. 30 on a request to block Louisiana's restrictive new abortion law while a suit challenging it is in court.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - U.S. District Judge John deGravelles has scheduled a status conference Sept. 30 on a request to block Louisiana's restrictive new abortion law while a suit challenging it is in court.

He told lawyers Tuesday that he wants brief memos by Sept. 23 on what issues each side wants the hearing to cover, what dates they want for the hearing and how much time they'll need to prepare.

His order says the memos cannot be longer than three pages.

On Sunday, deGravelles issued a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of the law while letting it take effect Monday.

The law requires physicians at all five abortion clinics in Louisiana to obtain privileges to admit patients to a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic where the doctor works.