NEW YORK - The National Abortion Federation, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, asked a federal court today to stop the first-ever federal ban on safe abortion procedures from taking effect. The law is scheduled to take effect at 12:01 am on November 6th.

"We are hopeful that the judge will rule quickly, acting to protect women and their doctors," said Vicki Saporta, President of the National Abortion Federation. "Our doctors see patients every day who need abortions to preserve their health. This ban cannot be allowed to come between women and the health care they need."

"The U.S. Supreme Court has already made clear that the ban is unconstitutional without an exception to protect women's health," said Talcott Camp, Deputy Director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project and the attorney who argued the case before the court today. "Disregarding this requirement, Congress passed a ban without a health exception and the president signed it. This alone should convince the court to block the ban."

After hearing argument today in the case, National Abortion Federation v. Ashcroft, the Honorable Richard Conway Casey indicated that he would soon issue a ruling.