Page 7 - Gregory Todd News Today

A Yellowstone County District Court judge late last week temporarily blocked three new laws that restrict access to abortion just hours before they were set to go into effect. Montana Public Radio's Shaylee Ragar talked with Montana Free Press's Mara Silvers and the Montana State News Bureau's Holly Michaels about what happened and what's still up in the air.

A Yellowstone County District Court judge late last week temporarily blocked three new laws that restrict access to abortion just hours before they were set to go into effect. Montana Public Radio's Shaylee Ragar talked with Montana Free Press's Mara Silvers and the Montana State News Bureau's Holly Michels about what happened and what's still up in the air.

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A judge granted Thursday evening a temporary restraining order delaying the implementation of three laws restricting abortion access in Montana, hours before the laws were set

District Judge Michael Moses of Billings blocked the laws until he rules on a request by Planned Parenthood of Montana

The laws are halted for 10 days or until the judge decides if hell issue a preliminary injunction, whichever happens first.

The laws would ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, restrict access to abortion pills and require abortion providers to ask patients if they would like to view an ultrasound.

During the Sept. 23 hearing, comments from the judge hit on the ongoing dispute between the judiciary branch and the Legislature.

On Wednesday afternoon, state attorneys filed a motion and supporting brief asking Todd to remove himself from the case, citing a comment the judge made Thursday that the state said displayed “personal bias and prejudice” against the defendants.

Whether three of Montana's four new abortion laws will go into effect as planned next week hangs in the balance.

BILLINGS - A former Billings Public Schools teacher admitted in a plea agreement to inappropriately touching two of his students. In court on Tuesday, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison on two counts of felony sexual assault. Judge Gregory Todd accepted the plea agreement in the case and sentenced Bret Skelton to 15 years in prison with five years suspended on each count. Those sentences will be served consecutively to each other, for a total of 30 years behind bars and 10 years suspended. ...