Federal judge grants Hobby Lobby a temporary injunction against health law's birth control coverage requirement

District Court Judge Joe Heaton gave Department of Justice lawyers until Oct. 1 to appeal.

Reuters: Hobby Lobby Wins A Stay Against Birth Control Mandate
A federal judge has temporarily exempted Hobby Lobby Stores Inc from a requirement in the 2010 healthcare law that it offer workers insurance coverage for birth control, which the retailer said violated its religious beliefs. The preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton in Oklahoma City, where Hobby Lobby is based, covers the arts and crafts chain and its affiliated Mardel Christian bookstore chain (Stempel, 7/19).

CQ HealthBeat: Hobby Lobby Wins Injunction In Birth Control Mandate Case
A federal judge Friday gave the craft store chain Hobby Lobby a temporary injunction that allows the company's Christian owners to continue defying an Obama administration regulation that employers must provide contraceptive coverage for their employees. Ruling from the bench, Oklahoma District Court Judge Joe Heaton granted the injunction and gave Department of Justice lawyers until Oct. 1 to appeal (Bunis, 7/19).