Judge Terminates Ultrasound Abortion Law

An Oklahoma judge overturned a state law yesterday that required women seeking an abortion to receive an ultrasound and a doctor's description of the fetus. Oklahoma County District Judge Vicki Robertson said the law violated constitutional requirements that legislative measures deal only with one subject. She did not rule on the validity of the ultrasound provisions.

An assistant AG said she'll meet with state officials to discuss whether to appeal. The law was passed in 2008, but legal action has prevented it from going into effect. Nova Health Systems, the parent group of Reproductive Services in Tulsa, filed a lawsuit in October, arguing that the law was unconstitutionally vague and it was not clear what the doctor should tell women undergoing the ultrasound. (More abortion stories.)