Arizona abortion ban to take effect, judge says

A federal judge on Monday upheld Arizona's pending law banning abortions after 20 weeks, making way for the law to take effect Thursday.

US District Judge James Teilborg said the decision might prompt a few pregnant women who are considering abortion to decide earlier, according to the Associated Press. He said the law is constitutional because it doesn't stop women from making the decision to end their pregnancies. Teilborg also wrote that the state provided "substantial and well-documented" evidence that an unborn baby has the capacity to feel pain during an abortion up until 20 weeks.

More from GlobalPost: Mississippi's only abortion clinic fights to stay open

Three abortion doctors had challenged the constitutionality of the law last week and argued in court for a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction, reported AZ Central. Teilborg denied both motions. The plaintiffs, represented by the Center for Reproductive Rights, said they would appeal the decision to the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals.

The AP said the ban is set to take effect Thursday and is similar to those enacted by other states. It prohibits abortions starting at 20 weeks of pregnancy, unless there is a medical emergency. The current ban prohibits abortions at the point where there is an ability to survive outside the womb, which is generally considered to be around 24 weeks. Republican Gov. Jan Brewer signed the new ban into law in April, making Arizona one of ten states to enact a ban at 20 weeks.

According to AZ Central, the Center for Reproductive Rights issued a written statement, saying the judge's decision was "callous" and adding that it allows the government to intrude on private decisions.