Alabama's abortion ban has been blocked by a federal judge

Alabama's strict new abortion law has been blocked by a federal judge just over two weeks before it was set to take effect.

Judge Myron Thompson of the United States District Court in Middle Alabama issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday temporarily blocking the law, which prohibits abortion in almost all cases, The New York Times reports. Performing abortions would be a felony under the law except in cases where a woman's health is at risk, with no exception for rape or incest. The law would have taken effect on Nov. 15.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) approved the measure in May, describing it as a potential "opportunity" for the Supreme Court to "revisit" Roe v. Wade. It came as part of a series of new restrictive abortion laws across the country, including in Georgia, where a new law was passed banning abortion in instances where a fetal heartbeat can be detected. The Georgia law was also blocked by a federal judge earlier this month.

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In his decision, Thompson said the Alabama law "contravenes clear Supreme Court precedent," The Hill reports, also saying it "violates the right of an individual to privacy, to make 'choices central to personal dignity and autonomy.'"