A split panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has revived state lawsuit alleging that anti-abortion demonstrators outside of a Queens medical clinic had harassed and intimidated patients during weekly protests that date back to 2012.

The majority, in a ruling handed down Wednesday, advanced a broad reading of federal and state statutes meant to shield patients from unwanted contact. The decision reversed a trial court ruling that denied the state attorney general’s office an injunction that would have halted protests at clinics.