The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday (Oct 7) reinstated a law that prohibits abortions in pregnancies over six weeks.&nbsp;

This comes just a week after the six-week abortion ban was struck down by a lower court. At the time, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney ruled that Georgia's so-called "heartbeat" abortion law was unconstitutional.

"Liberty in Georgia includes... the power of a woman to control her own body, to decide what happens to it and in it, and to reject state interference with her healthcare choices."

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:88,&quot;y&quot;:145,&quot;w&quot;:607,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:121,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1835}" data-ved="2ahUKEwiN5pOUl_6IAxX-bmwGHbNiFqkQxfQBKAB6BAgMEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/its-unconstitutional-georgia-judge-overturns-us-states-abortion-ban-763355" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/its-unconstitutional-georgia-judge-overturns-us-states-abortion-ban-763355&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiN5pOUl_6IAxX-bmwGHbNiFqkQxfQBKAB6BAgMEAE">Georgia judge overturns US state's abortion ban, calls abortion law 'unconstitutional'</a>

"That power is not, however, unlimited," he added. “When a fetus growing inside a woman reaches viability, when society can assume care and responsibility for that separate life, then — and only then — may society intervene,”&nbsp;said the judge.

With this ruling, the state would have once again allowed abortions up until fetal viability — around 22 weeks of pregnancy.

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:279,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1969}">How was the ruling overturned?</h2>

The ruling has not been overturned, rather it is on hold. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, a Republican, has appealed the lower court ruling. On Monday, Georgia Supreme Court put the ruling on hold while the appeal is being heard.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwj-j8yumP6IAxW_4zgGHY4oBBsQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pregnant-women-in-texas-facing-terrifying-health-crisis-maternal-deaths-surge-56-after-abortion-ban-study-761604" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/pregnant-women-in-texas-facing-terrifying-health-crisis-maternal-deaths-surge-56-after-abortion-ban-study-761604&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj-j8yumP6IAxW_4zgGHY4oBBsQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">Pregnant women in Texas facing ‘terrifying’ health crisis; maternal deaths surge 56% after abortion ban: Study</a>

Meanwhile, the US Supreme Court upheld a conservative lower court's ruling that hospitals in Texas are not obligated to perform emergency abortions under federal law.

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:424,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2114}">White House slams decision</h2>

The US White House has voiced its opposition to the Georgia and Texas decisions.

In a statement, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the Supreme Court decision "means that women in Texas could still be denied critical emergency medical care because of the state's dangerous and extreme abortion bans".

"The stories we hear of women being denied care they need in emergency situations is completely unacceptable," she said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiN5pOUl_6IAxX-bmwGHbNiFqkQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-supreme-court-rejects-bidens-bid-to-enforce-abortion-emergency-law-in-texas-765340" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/us-supreme-court-rejects-bidens-bid-to-enforce-abortion-emergency-law-in-texas-765340&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiN5pOUl_6IAxX-bmwGHbNiFqkQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">US Supreme Court rejects Biden's bid to enforce emergency abortions in Texas</a>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:619,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2309}">The Georgia abortion ban</h2>

In Georgia, the law, known as the Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act, bans abortions after an embryo's cardiac activity can be detected. This is usually around six weeks when most women don't even realise they are pregnant.

The law was passed by Georgia's Republican-dominated state legislature in 2019 and went into effect in 2022 after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade — the nationwide right to abortion.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday (Oct 7) reinstated a law that prohibits abortions in pregnancies over six weeks. This comes just a week after the six-week abortion ban was struck down by a lower court.

The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday (Oct 7) reinstated a law that prohibits abortions in pregnancies over six weeks. This comes just a week after the six-week abortion ban was struck down by a lower court. At the time, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney ruled that Georgia's so-called "heartbeat" abortion law was unconstitutional. "Liberty in Georgia includes... the power of a woman to control her own body, to decide what happens to it and in it, and to reject state interference with her healthcare choices." Also read | Georgia judge overturns US state's abortion ban, calls abortion law 'unconstitutional' "That power is not, however, unlimited," he added. “When a fetus growing inside a woman reaches viability, when society can assume care and responsibility for that separate life, then — and only then — may society intervene,” said the judge. With this ruling, the state would have once again allowed abortions up until fetal viability — around 22 weeks of pregnancy. How was the ruling overturned? The ruling has not been overturned, rather it is on hold. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, a Republican, has appealed the lower court ruling. On Monday, Georgia Supreme Court put the ruling on hold while the appeal is being heard. Also read | Pregnant women in Texas facing ‘terrifying’ health crisis; maternal deaths surge 56% after abortion ban: Study Meanwhile, the US Supreme Court upheld a conservative lower court's ruling that hospitals in Texas are not obligated to perform emergency abortions under federal law. White House slams decision The US White House has voiced its opposition to the Georgia and Texas decisions. In a statement, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the Supreme Court decision "means that women in Texas could still be denied critical emergency medical care because of the state's dangerous and extreme abortion bans". "The stories we hear of women being denied care they need in emergency situations is completely unacceptable," she said. Also read | US Supreme Court rejects Biden's bid to enforce emergency abortions in Texas The Georgia abortion ban In Georgia, the law, known as the Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act, bans abortions after an embryo's cardiac activity can be detected. This is usually around six weeks when most women don't even realise they are pregnant. The law was passed by Georgia's Republican-dominated state legislature in 2019 and went into effect in 2022 after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade — the nationwide right to abortion. (With inputs from agencies)

Georgia supreme court restores six-week 'heartbeat' abortion ban; White House slams decision

Georgia’s ban on abortion starting around six weeks into a pregnancy was overturned by a judge, who ruled on Tuesday that it violated the US constitution and US supreme court precedent when it was enacted in July. The ban prohibited most abortions once a “detectable human heartbeat” is present.&nbsp;

An ultrasound normally detects cardiac activity as early as six weeks. This means that abortions in Georgia were in effect banned even before many women learnt about their pregnancy.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-sc-rules-every-woman-has-the-right-to-safe-abortion-irrespective-of-their-marital-status-520799">India: SC rules every woman has the right to safe abortion, irrespective of marital status</a>

Judge Robert McBurney was ruling on a lawsuit filed by doctors and advocacy groups seeking to strike down the ban on multiple grounds. The lawsuit contended that it violates the Georgia constitution’s right to privacy and liberty by forcing pregnancy and childbirth on women. It further said that Georgia’s abortion ban was invalid because it violated the US constitution and US supreme court precedent when it was enacted.

Georgia's law was signed by the Republican governor, Brian Kemp, in 2019 but did not take effect until the supreme court overturned Roe v Wade. The historic ruling had protected the right to an abortion for nearly 50 years.&nbsp;

McBurney said when the law was enacted, “everywhere in America, including Georgia, it was unequivocally unconstitutional for governments – federal, state, or local – to ban abortions before viability.”

He said the state’s law “did not become the law of Georgia when it was enacted and it is not the law of Georgia now”.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Georgia’s ban on abortion starting around six weeks into a pregnancy was overturned by a judge, who ruled on Tuesday that it violated the US constitution and US supreme court precedent when it was enacted in July.

Georgia’s ban on abortion starting around six weeks into a pregnancy was overturned by a judge, who ruled on Tuesday that it violated the US constitution and US supreme court precedent when it was enacted in July. The ban prohibited most abortions once a “detectable human heartbeat” is present. An ultrasound normally detects cardiac activity as early as six weeks. This means that abortions in Georgia were in effect banned even before many women learnt about their pregnancy. Also Read | India: SC rules every woman has the right to safe abortion, irrespective of marital status Judge Robert McBurney was ruling on a lawsuit filed by doctors and advocacy groups seeking to strike down the ban on multiple grounds. The lawsuit contended that it violates the Georgia constitution’s right to privacy and liberty by forcing pregnancy and childbirth on women. It further said that Georgia’s abortion ban was invalid because it violated the US constitution and US supreme court precedent when it was enacted. Georgia's law was signed by the Republican governor, Brian Kemp, in 2019 but did not take effect until the supreme court overturned Roe v Wade. The historic ruling had protected the right to an abortion for nearly 50 years. McBurney said when the law was enacted, “everywhere in America, including Georgia, it was unequivocally unconstitutional for governments – federal, state, or local – to ban abortions before viability.” He said the state’s law “did not become the law of Georgia when it was enacted and it is not the law of Georgia now”. (With inputs from agencies)

Georgia’s six-week abortion ban unconstitutional, rules judge

georgia-abortion

Georgia Abortion, News on Georgia Abortion, stories on Georgia Abortion, articles on Georgia Abortion, Georgia Abortion stories at Wion, Georgia Abortion news, Georgia Abortion latest news

georgia abortion

Georgia supreme court restores six-week 'heartbeat' abortion ban; White House slams decision

Georgia’s six-week abortion ban unconstitutional, rules judge