Federal judge temporarily blocks any possible prosecution of Idaho doctors for providing out-of-state referrals for abortion

A federal judge has temporarily blocked any attempt to prosecute or strip medical licenses from Idaho doctors providing out-of-state referrals for abortion. The ruling in favor of Planned Parenthood Great Northwest claims any such indictment would be “highly likely” to “unconstitutionally prohibit” the First Amendment-protected speech of Idaho medical providers. Appointed by Democratic President Bill Clinton, U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled such a policy “impermissibly regulates speech based on content and viewpoint.” The authority for such prosecutions originates from a withdrawn legal opinion from Idaho Attorney General Raúl...