California judge: 'unlikely' to block release of videos showing fetal-tissue sales

August 14, 2015

A California court has denied a bid by Stem Express, a company engaged in the sale of human tissue for research, for access to undercover video recordings by the Center for Medical Progress (CMP).

Stem Express, which had been the focus of a CMP video report on the sale of fetal tissue by Planned Parenthood, had earlier won a temporary restraining order, barring release of videos that showed employees of the California-based company. Seeking an injunction that would extend that ban, Stem Express then asked the court to provide access to the undercover recordings.

Judge Joane O’Donnell denied the request, explaining that Stem Express had not met the high standard required for “prior restraint” on the release of the videos. “Plaintiff does not persuade the Court that the discovery it seeks is necessary to obtain the preliminary injunction,” the judge wrote. “That is because it appears unlikely that the Court is going to grant the preliminary injunction.”

The court’s restraining order on the release of CMP material applies only to those videos that show employees of Stem Express, and that restraining order expires on August 19. The judge's words suggest that she is unlikely to extend the order.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Court bars StemExpress from access to journalistic materials used to exposed Planned Parenthood’s sale of aborted baby parts (Breitbart)
• Damaging new video exposes Planned Parenthood trade in fetal organs; California court restricts further releases (CWN, 7/30)