The Utah branch of Planned Parenthood says a federal judge abused his discretion when he allowed the governor to cut off funding to the organization after the release of secretly recorded videos showing out-of-state employees discussing fetal tissue from abortions.
The Planned Parenthood Association of Utah appealed the ruling Tuesday before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.
U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups decided the government has an interest in avoiding the perception of corruption and allowed the defunding order to go forward. Planned Parenthood says the judge ignored evidence the decision would hurt access to important services.
Republican Gov. Gary Herbert said he stopped funding for sex education and sexually transmitted disease testing because he was troubled by the videos.
The 10th Circuit has issued an emergency order keeping the federal money flowing.