Planned Parenthood: Injunction Blocks Utah Defunding Temporarily After Appeals Court Ruling

Planned Parenthood was granted an injunction Wednesday by the United States Court of Appeals to prevent Gov. Gary Herbert and the State of Utah from de-funding the women's health organization, reported Salt Lake City news station KSTU.

Herbert had previously ordered the Utah Department of Health to withhold funding from the organization after doctored videos circulated in August suggesting that the group mishandled aborted fetal issue.

U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups last week upheld the governor's order to cut funding by the end of 2015, but the Utah arm of Planned Parenthood appealed. Karrie Galloway, CEO of Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, hailed Wednesday's decision to temporarily stop Herbert's hold.

“We are thrilled with today’s decision, which will allow our trusted health care providers and educators to continue serving the thousands of Utahans who depend on us as the appeals process proceeds,” Galloway stated in a press release. “In the meantime, we will count on our partners at the Utah Department of Health to continue honoring the four contracts slated to end December 31, 2015.”

The Republican governor had wanted to hold $275,000 in contracts for sex education, as well as sexually transmitted disease testing, according to the Salt Lake City Tribune. His office had no comment on the ruling.

The case will likely be heard within the next few months, according to news station KSTU.

"We will continue to stand up for the health and rights of thousands of Utahans who rely on Planned Parenthood for affordable health care and education," Galloway said in the statement.

The viral videos released over the summer came from the anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress. It was revealed the group paid actors to go undercover to interview Planned Parenthood employees and edited the footage, but lawmakers continued to attack the organization. As Republicans geared up for the 2016 election, many referenced the video while on the campaign trail. During the first Republican primary presidential debate, candidate Carly Fiorina claimed Planned Parenthood sells "baby body parts for profit."