NATCHEZ — The author of the legislation that would have at least temporarily ended abortion services in Mississippi said he is disappointed but not surprised that a federal judge issued a restraining order to keep the law from going into effect Sunday.

U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan issued a temporary restraining order on a law authored by Rep. Sam Mims, R-McComb, that would have required that any physician offering abortion services in Mississippi have admitting privileges in a local hospital.

Only one women’s health provider in Mississippi offers abortions, the Women’s Health Organization in Jackson. The clinic filed a lawsuit seeking to block the enactment of the law.

Jordan set a hearing for July 11 to determine if the law can be further blocked.

Mims said the law does not address when abortions can be received or what exceptions might apply to abortion regulations.

“There are 2,400 abortions performed every year in Mississippi, so we know that the majority of abortions in Mississippi are at that clinic,” he said.

“I believe this is a health care issue; I believe (abortion) is a serious procedure that is being performed by a physician, and in case something goes wrong, we believe that physician should be able to follow that patient to a local hospital.”

A news release from the Center for Reproductive Rights, which filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Women’s Health Organization, said less than 0.3 percent of abortion patients experience complications that require hospitalization.

“While we are pleased the court has decided to temporarily block enforcement of this medically unwarranted restriction, this battle is far from over,” said Nancy Northup, president and CEO at the Center for Reproductive Rights. “We will continue to fight alongside the Jackson Women’s Health Organization to ensure that the women of Mississippi are not relegated to a second class of U.S. citizens, denied the constitutionally-protected rights that other women nationwide are guaranteed.”

Mims said several other states have similar legislation, so it is not a new, unheard-of regulation. He said he awaits the July 11 hearing.

“It is in the courts now, and we will have to wait and see how the court rules,” he said.

The Women’s Health Organization was open and operating normally Monday.