The law, which was to go into effect Wednesday, requires clinics to adhere to strict, hospital-like facilities requirements. Just nine of the approximately 20 clinics in the state would have met that requirement, abortion rights groups have said.

The law also required physicians conducting abortions to have admitting privileges at local hospitals.

The 5 to 4 ruling came in response to a request by abortion rights groups, which previously lost an appeal and had asked the Supreme Court to step in on an emergency basis. The ruling blocks the law until the court can give the law a more thorough review, perhaps as early as next fall. The court’s conservative bloc, however, would have denied the request, the order says.