For more than six years, the Cedar Park Assembly of God in Kirkland has been fighting Washington state in court over a law that requires employer-sponsored health insurance to cover access to abortion.

The church lost another round in its case in March, with a federal appeals panel issuing a 2-1 ruling that upheld a lower court decision siding with the state.

But on Tuesday, there was a new twist when the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals took the unusual step of rescinding that ruling.

The withdrawal comes after the Cedar Park Assembly of God asked the full appellate court to reconsider the March decision, in what is called a rehearing en banc. Eighteen Republican-led states supported the church in court filings.

In a short, written order, the three-judge appeals court panel provide

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