An Oklahoma judge on Wednesday struck down the state's law requiring women seeking abortions to have an ultrasound image placed in front of them and to listen to a detailed description of the fetus before the procedure.

District Judge Bryan Dixon ruled the statute passed by the Oklahoma Legislature in 2010 is an unconstitutional special law, and is can't be enforced because it addresses only patients, physicians and sonographers dealing with abortions without addressing other medical care.

Oklahoma is one of several states that have passed laws requiring doctors to both perform an ultrasound and provide a verbal description of the fetus before an abortion, while others are considering similar measures. The laws have been on hold in Oklahoma and North Carolina as legal challenges proceed, while Texas' recently was upheld.

Former Democratic Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry had vetoed his state's bill after it passed the Republican-controlled Legislature, warning the measure likely would lead to a "potential futile legal battle." Republicans overrode the veto with help from several Democratic anti-abortion lawmakers.