Colombian court postpones ruling on decriminalization of abortion

Colombian justice studies two lawsuits that seek to decriminalize abortion 3:13

(CNN) -

  Colombia's Constitutional Court said it will postpone the ruling on the total decriminalization of abortion in the country after four magistrates from the court that deliberates the case voted to remove one of their colleagues, as reported on Thursday on Thursday. communication director of the court, Juan Camilo Rivadeneira.

The court was due to rule by Friday on removing abortion from the country's penal code, which would mean that women and girls who undergo an illegal abortion could no longer be prosecuted.

The position of magistrate Alejandro Linares in the Court was called into question after allegations that he had commented on the case in an interview with the Colombian magazine Semana on November 11, in breach of the court's regulations.

The Constitutional Court is expected to appoint another judge on Friday to decide whether or not Linares should be disqualified.

At the moment it is not clear when the court will be ready to rule on the matter.