Judge delays opening of Planned Parenthood facility

Planned Parenthood cannot open its Aurora facility Tuesday as originally scheduled, a federal court judge ruled today.

Judge Charles Norgle gave the city of Aurora 24 hours to respond to Planned Parenthood's request for an injunction barring the city from preventing the opening of the controversial women's health clinic at Oakhurst Drive and New York Street.

Planned Parenthood also has 24 hours to respond, Norgle said, and the two sides will meet in court again at 10 a.m. Thursday in Chicago.

Norgle also denied the city's request to dismiss Planned Parenthood's request for an injunction.

The clinic will provide a variety of services, such as mammograms and gynecological exams. But the fact it also will offer abortions has sparked vocal opposition as well as support.

Planned Parenthood officials are accusing Aurora officials of unnecessarily delaying the clinic's opening.

City officials say they want to complete an investigation into complaints by Chicago's Pro-Life Action League that Planned Parenthood masked its identity during the planning application process.

Both Planned Parenthood and the Pro-Life Action League leaders claimed victory today.

Planned Parenthood CEO Steve Trombley said he was happy the judge rejected the city's request to dismiss his group's call for an injunction.

Eric Scheidler, a spokesman for the Pro-Life Action League, said his group sees it as a victory, because its goal was to keep the clinic from opening Tuesday.