Constitutional Law

Top Georgia court reinstates six-week abortion ban

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Atlanta on a map with a pin in it

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The Georgia Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed enforcement of the state’s ban on most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy.

The state supreme court acted after a judge in Fulton County, Georgia, halted enforcement of the law.

Acting on an emergency request, the Georgia Supreme Court stayed the ban on enforcement while litigation continues, report the Washington Post, Law360 and a press release from the American Civil Liberties Union.

Judge Robert McBurney had ruled Nov. 16 that the fetal heartbeat provision was unconstitutional under U.S. Supreme Court precedent when it was enacted in 2019 and cannot be enforced. The law bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which happens at about six weeks of pregnancy.

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