Late this afternoon, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito issued an order that delayed Louisiana 2014 Act 620 from going into effect until at least Feb. 7.

The law, which requires abortion physicians to have admitting privileges at a local hospital, was set to take effect early next week after the 5th Circuit U.S.Court of Appeals upheld the law and refused the abortion industry’s attempt to have the full court rehear the case. Last weekend the abortion industry appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency stay, and Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry responded to that petition on Thursday.

Alito, the justice handling appeals for this region, said the filings for the application for the stay were not completed until earlier today, and the justices need time to review them. The order is in effect through Thursday, Feb. 7.

Benjamin Clapper, executive director of Louisiana Right to Life, said, “We appreciate the justices’ thoughtful consideration, and we look forward to their decision.”