The Latest: Court mulls abortion clinic plea to keep license

ST. LOUIS – The Latest on a dispute between the only Missouri clinic performing abortions and state regulators over license renewal (all times local):

10:25 a.m.

A St. Louis judge is considering whether to grant a preliminary injunction in Planned Parenthood’s effort to retain its right to perform abortions at Missouri’s only clinic that does them.

The one-hour hearing Wednesday focused on technical legal matters. Planned Parenthood attorney Jamie Boyer argued that the state health department regulations that relate to licensing abortion clinics exceed the authority provided by state law.

John Sauer of the Missouri attorney general’s office disagreed. He also argued that an administrative hearing, not a court, is the proper venue for Planned Parenthood’s effort to keep its license.

There is no indication when the judge will rule.

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2:40 a.m.

The fate of Missouri’s only abortion clinic is at stake in a hearing scheduled for Wednesday in St. Louis.

Circuit Judge Michael Stelzer will hear testimony in a hearing on Planned Parenthood’s request for a preliminary injunction that would keep open its abortion clinic in St. Louis.

Missouri’s health department last week declined to renew the clinic’s license to perform abortion procedures, citing concerns about patient safety, including allegations of “failed abortions” and legal violations. Clinic leaders say the allegations are part of an effort by an anti-abortion administration to eliminate the procedure in the state.

Stelzer on Friday issued a temporary restraining order to allow the clinic to continue to perform abortions, at least until a decision is made on the injunction request.