Georgia’s Supreme Court on Monday reinstated the state’s six-week abortion ban, halting a judge’s ruling a week ago that the six-week ban is unconstitutional and that abortions can continue beyond six weeks.
The six-week ban will remain in effect while Georgia’s highest court hears the state’s appeal.
That means that for the time being, abortions in Georgia are not allowed after six weeks of pregnancy, often before many women are aware they are pregnant.
After the US Supreme Court fallen over Roe v. Wade in 2022 passed a law in Georgia that bans most abortions once cardiac activity is detected, which typically takes about six weeks. The abortion debate has since made its way into the courts in Georgia.
Last week, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, in lifting the six-week ban, wrote in his order that while “the state’s interest in protecting ‘unborn’ life is compelling, until that life can be maintained by the state…. the balance of rights is in woman’s favor.”
Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia, the Republican who signed After the six-week ban, he issued a statement following McBurney’s ruling, saying: “Once again, the will of Georgians and their representatives has been overridden by the personal beliefs of one judge. Protecting the lives of the most vulnerable among us is one of our most sacred responsibilities, and Georgia will continue to be a place where we fight for the lives of the unborn.”
It is not yet clear how long it will take before the Georgia Supreme Court will hear the appeal.
