A federal appeals court is blocking a new Arizona law that restricts abortions.

The three-judge panel says it will move quickly to look at the challenge to the measure.

Today's ruling from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals trumps an earlier decision from a federal judge that approved putting the law into effect Thursday. The earlier decision also held that the abortion law didn't violate the constitution.

The controversial Arizona measure bans most abortions beginning at 20 weeks, with the exception of narrowly-defined medical emergencies.