SPRINGFIELD — An Illinois judge dealt a blow to anti-abortion groups Thursday, dismissing a lawsuit aimed at stopping a law that’s about to take effect that would expand Medicaid and state-employee group health insurance to cover abortions.

Circuit Associate Judge Jennifer Ascher ruled that the judiciary should not intervene in “political questions” in the General Assembly, such as a law’s effective date or whether there’s an appropriation to fund it.

Those are the pillars of the lawsuit seeking to stop the law from taking effect Monday. State Rep. Peter Breen, R-Lombard and special counsel to one of the plaintiffs, said he will appeal the ruling.