( CNN ) -- A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked enforcement of an Arizona abortion law that opponents call one of the most restrictive in the country . A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S . Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday put the controversial parts of the law on hold while further legal challenges proceed . The San Francisco-based court also moved the case on a judicial fast-track and said it would tackle the issue as soon as possible later this year . Arizona HB 2036 places restrictions on and would criminalize most abortions performed after 20 weeks of pregnancy . The law has narrow exceptions for medical emergencies involving the pregnant woman . The law was scheduled to go into effect Thursday , and a federal judge in Phoenix earlier this week had allowed it to go into effect . That prompted an emergency request for `` injunctive relief '' to the appeals court by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights , on behalf of three patients and their physicians . Those groups said in their successful emergency appeal the ban would force doctors to wait until a woman with a high-risk pregnancy was close to death or would suffer major medical damage before terminating a high-risk pregnancy . Other states permit some second-trimester and post-viability abortions , and allow for exceptions when the expectant mother 's life or health would be in danger . There is no clear medical or legal standard to determine when a pregnancy would be considered `` later term . '' The Arizona ban would also apply to women who have been informed the fetus would not survive after birth . `` We are relieved that the court blocked this dangerous ban and that women in Arizona will continue to be able to get safe , appropriate medical care , '' said Alexa Kolbi-Molinas with the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project . `` Abortion is a serious , personal decision that should be made by a woman , her family and her doctor -- not by politicians . '' There was no immediate reaction to the court 's injunction from the state 's governor or the law 's legislative supporters . Many Arizona state prosecutors , who would have enforced the law , were at odds on whether the law should be put on hold until its constitutionality was ultimately determined in the courts . Arizona is among 10 states to pass laws with 20-week abortion bans , according to court records . A current Arizona measure blocks the medical procedure at viability -- generally about 20-24 weeks when the fetus might be able to survive outside the womb . Gov . Jan Brewer signed the new law in April . She had supported Judge James Teilborg 's decision Monday to allow the new law to proceed , saying it protects women and children . The appeals court 's new order now puts that enforcement on hold . The case is Isaacson v. Thorne ( 12-16670 ) .
The law would would restrict and criminalize most abortions performed after 20 weeks . An ACLU spokeswoman praised the court 's action , calling the law a `` dangerous ban '' There was no immediate reaction from the governor or the law 's legislative supporters . The full appeals court could tackle the issue later this fall .