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Most abortions will remain legal in Utah while a lawsuit against the state's trigger ban is pending in court.

Driving the news: On Monday, Judge Andrew Stone agreed with Planned Parenthood that the state's ban on abortion should not be enacted until the lawsuit is resolved.

How it works: For Stone to keep blocking the ban, four conditions had to be met:

Details: Stone agreed the ban would hurt patients seeking abortions by delaying their care — and leading some to try to end pregnancies dangerously, without a doctor's care.

What he said: "You're talking about a seismic change in women's health treatment. We [should] make an informed and careful decision before upsetting the ordinary medical treatment that has been in place in Utah for nearly 50 years."

Of note: The state's attorneys haven't disputed the potential harm to patients.

Planned Parenthood could win its lawsuit, Stone acknowledged — particularly on its argument that the ban violates the state constitution's provision for Utahns' freedom of conscience.

Yes, but: Stone stressed that he was not making a final decision on that argument, or any others — only that the constitutional questions are serious enough to warrant a closer look before imposing the ban on patients.

What's next: The ban will not take effect unless Planned Parenthood loses the case, or the state successfully appeals Monday's injunction to the higher court.

Bottom line: The state Supreme Court will almost certainly have the final word on the ban's constitutionality.

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