Judge Extends Restraining Order Against Florida Department of Health

A temporary restraining order barring the state of Florida from threatening TV stations over campaign ads related to abortion has been extended for 14 days, said an order Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for Northern Florida (see 2410180050). The restraining order was set to expire Tuesday, the same day as the hearing for a preliminary injunction that would similarly bar the Florida Department of Health (DOH) from acting against TV stations running the ads. The group behind the ads, Floridians Protecting Freedom, requested both the restraining order and the preliminary injunction. The ads support an amendment to Florida’s constitution that would bar the state from limiting abortions, but DOH has argued that they pose a health nuisance by spreading inaccurate information about the state’s abortion policies. Chief Judge Mark Walker extended the restraining order to allow more time for him to rule on the preliminary injunction, Tuesday’s order said. “The parties’ briefing and the arguments raised at the hearing on the motion for preliminary injunction identified new issues with respect to Plaintiff’s claims, which this Court must consider before ruling on the pending motion,” the order said. Neither the state nor Floridians Protecting Freedoms objected to the extension, the order said. The TRO will now expire Nov. 12 or when the court rules on the preliminary injunction, whichever is sooner, said Tuesday’s order.