Oregon Public Broadcasting

An Olympia grocery store chain and two pharmacists will be back in court Tuesday. They will be defending a preliminary injunction imposed by a judge last fall.

That injunction prevents new Washington State Pharmacy Board rules from taking effect. At issue is whether pharmacies should have to fill controversial prescriptions -- like Plan B, also known as the morning after pill.

Kristen Waggoner represents the Stormans family grocery store chain and the two pharmacists.

Kristen Waggoner: “We’re asking for a religious exemption as it relates to not participating in destroying human life. So it’s not any exemption, anyone that comes along and says well I have an objection to this or that. It’s to destroying human life.”

Planned Parenthood and the Northwest Women’s Law Center say the rights of patients are at stake.

They want the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to lift the injunction - at least until next April. That’s when a judge will hold a trial to decide if the Pharmacy Board’s rules are constitutional.