U.S. LEGAL NEWS | Fri Aug 19, 2016 6:56am EDT

U.S. judge permanently blocks Florida law to end abortion funding

By Ian Simpson

A federal judge on Thursday permanently blocked parts of a Florida law that aimed to cut off state funding for preventive health services at clinics that also provide abortions.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle had issued a preliminary order in June after state Planned Parenthood affiliates challenged provisions as unconstitutional. The June order had come just before the restrictions were to take effect.

"The preliminary injunction is made permanent with this order," Hinkle wrote in a three-page decision.

The judge had found the clinics were unacceptably targeted by state efforts to eliminate funding for other healthcare services they also provided, such as birth control and screening for cancer and sexually transmitted diseases.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]