The American Center for Law and Justice has temporarily halted a New York City ordinance that would harm crisis pregnancy centers.

The ACLJ challenged the ordinance in federal court and a district judge agreed to a preliminary injunction stopping the law from going into effect on Thursday.

Judge William H. Pauley of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York concluded the law violates free speech.

The law's "over-expansiveness is evident from its very language," Pauley said.

The court was especially critical of the city's desire to single-out crisis pregnancy centers with the new law.

The ACLJ says the law violates several constitutional rights of pro-life groups, forcing them to express views about abortion and contraception contrary to their beliefs and convictions.

"The court clearly understood that this law punishes pro-life advocates," ACLJ senior counsel CeCe Heil said in a released statement.

The city plans to appeal the ruling.

The ACLJ filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the new ordinance last month. The group is representing The Evergreen Association and Life Center of New York which operate a total of 13 crisis pregnancy centers across New York City.