A judge has issued a temporary halt to South Carolina's new law that bans most abortions at around six weeks of pregnancy. The Friday ruling by Judge Clifton Newman came shortly after Governor Henry McMaster signed the bill into law. As a result, South Carolina will revert back to a ban on abortions at approximately 20 weeks after fertilisation until the state Supreme Court reviews the measure.

Judge Newman stated that the status quo should be maintained until the Supreme Court has an opportunity to review the law. "It's going to end up there," he said.

The newly passed law is similar to a previous ban on abortions once a heartbeat is detected, which was passed in 2021.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-south-carolina-passes-six-week-abortion-ban-details-here-595807">US: South Carolina passes six-week abortion ban. Details here</a>

However, the state Supreme Court in a 3-2 decision ruled that the 2021 law violated the right to privacy outlined in the state constitution.&nbsp;

As per AP, legislative leaders believe that the new law makes some technical tweaks and that these may influence at least one justice to reconsider their position, especially since the author of the previous ruling has retired.

However, abortion rights group Planned Parenthood contends that the new law is so similar to the previous one that it would harm clinics and women seeking treatment if it remains in effect until a full court review.

Planned Parenthood immediately filed a lawsuit against the new law upon its signing, arguing that it created uncertainty for South Carolina's abortion clinics, resulting in cancelled appointments for patients in the later stages of pregnancy and requiring doctors to give careful consideration to the new regulations.&nbsp;

The majority opinion in the state Supreme Court ruling that struck down the 2021 law highlighted the authority of lawmakers to protect life but ultimately recognised that the privacy clause in the state constitution grants women the time to decide whether to have an abortion.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-carolina-legislature-overrides-12-week-abortion-ban-veto-makes-it-law-593429">North Carolina legislature overrides 12-week abortion ban veto, makes it law</a>

It stated that most women are unaware of their pregnancy at six weeks after conception.&nbsp;

Justice Kaye Hearn, who authored the opinion, has since retired, leaving the South Carolina Supreme Court as the only high court in the country without a female justice.

The changes made in the new law specifically target Justice John Few, who was part of the majority in the previous ruling. Justice Few expressed concerns about the poorly written nature of the 2021 law and suggested that a full ban on abortion would likely be constitutional.&nbsp;

He compared a ban to child abuse or rape laws and said that it would not violate privacy rights if a fetus is granted the same rights as a person.&nbsp;

The new law includes exceptions for fatal fetal anomalies, the life and health of the patient, and cases of rape or incest within the first 12 weeks. Violating the law could result in felony charges for doctors, carrying a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<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>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

A judge has issued a temporary halt to South Carolina's new law that bans most abortions at around six weeks of pregnancy. The Friday ruling by Judge Clifton Newman came shortly after Governor Henry McMaster signed the bill into law.

A judge has issued a temporary halt to South Carolina's new law that bans most abortions at around six weeks of pregnancy. The Friday ruling by Judge Clifton Newman came shortly after Governor Henry McMaster signed the bill into law. As a result, South Carolina will revert back to a ban on abortions at approximately 20 weeks after fertilisation until the state Supreme Court reviews the measure. Judge Newman stated that the status quo should be maintained until the Supreme Court has an opportunity to review the law. "It's going to end up there," he said. The newly passed law is similar to a previous ban on abortions once a heartbeat is detected, which was passed in 2021. Also read | US: South Carolina passes six-week abortion ban. Details here However, the state Supreme Court in a 3-2 decision ruled that the 2021 law violated the right to privacy outlined in the state constitution. As per AP, legislative leaders believe that the new law makes some technical tweaks and that these may influence at least one justice to reconsider their position, especially since the author of the previous ruling has retired. However, abortion rights group Planned Parenthood contends that the new law is so similar to the previous one that it would harm clinics and women seeking treatment if it remains in effect until a full court review. Planned Parenthood immediately filed a lawsuit against the new law upon its signing, arguing that it created uncertainty for South Carolina's abortion clinics, resulting in cancelled appointments for patients in the later stages of pregnancy and requiring doctors to give careful consideration to the new regulations. The majority opinion in the state Supreme Court ruling that struck down the 2021 law highlighted the authority of lawmakers to protect life but ultimately recognised that the privacy clause in the state constitution grants women the time to decide whether to have an abortion. Also read | North Carolina legislature overrides 12-week abortion ban veto, makes it law It stated that most women are unaware of their pregnancy at six weeks after conception. Justice Kaye Hearn, who authored the opinion, has since retired, leaving the South Carolina Supreme Court as the only high court in the country without a female justice. The changes made in the new law specifically target Justice John Few, who was part of the majority in the previous ruling. Justice Few expressed concerns about the poorly written nature of the 2021 law and suggested that a full ban on abortion would likely be constitutional. He compared a ban to child abuse or rape laws and said that it would not violate privacy rights if a fetus is granted the same rights as a person. The new law includes exceptions for fatal fetal anomalies, the life and health of the patient, and cases of rape or incest within the first 12 weeks. Violating the law could result in felony charges for doctors, carrying a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

South Carolina judge temporarily blocks abortion ban, pending Supreme Court review

Lawmakers in the US state of South Carolina are all set to bring in a bill that would make a woman who had an abortion eligible for the death penalty. The bill called "South Carolina Prenatal Equal Protection Act of 2023," seeks to amend the state's current law, redefining a "person" to include a fertilised egg at the point of conception, affording that zygote "equal protection under the homicide laws of the state" . Destroying it, therefore, will be punishable up to and including the death penalty, if the bill becomes law. Currently, South Carolina punishes abortion with a $1,000 fine and up to two years in prison. At least 13 US states have banned abortion following the Supreme Court's ruling to overturn Roe v Wade.

Here's everything you need to know about the bill:

Abortion rule in South Carolina:

Abortion is currently legal in South Carolina but up to 21 weeks and 6 days; outlawing a 2021 ban, where abortion at six weeks was struck down by the US top court, CNBC News reported.&nbsp;

This is not the first time a US lawmaker has introduced the death penalty, which is one of the harshest punishments. Back in March 2021, Texas state Rep. Bryan Slaton proposed legislation that would not only ban abortion but would also criminalise it, and might even lead up to the death penalty, the Texas Tribune reported. However, the bill, like other similar legislations, was not passed.&nbsp;

'Life needs to be protected'

The bill authored by State Rep Rob Harris implies that getting an abortion is the same as committing homicide, Business Insider reported. The bill was initially pre-filed in December but now sits in the Judiciary Committee. Till now, 21 lawmakers have agreed to the bill.&nbsp;

Harris told local media, "if we call and define it (fertilised egg) as a life, then why should anyone be able to take that life. If&nbsp;it's life, it need to be protected like any other life."

Harris said, “Murder of the pre-born is harsh.”

He added that the bill aims to ensure that an unborn child who is a victim of assault is offered&nbsp;equal protection under the assault laws of the state, but with exceptions.

Advocates of "Planned Parenthood" opposes the bill:

A spokesperson for "Planned Parenthood," Vicki Ringer criticised the bill. He told WBTW, "That's a hard pill to swallow for anybody.To recognise that you are not valuable. To call this equal protection, it is far from equal. It is giving greater weight to a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus than it is to a human being. You can consider a fetus to be a person, but you can't consider it to have more weight than the living person who is a life fully lived on this planet."

Rep Nancy Mace, who represents South Carolina in the US House said that she sees the bill as a "deeply disturbing" trend.&nbsp;

Lawmakers in the US state of South Carolina are all set to bring in a bill that would make a woman who had an abortion eligible for the death penalty. The bill called "South Carolina Prenatal Equal Protection Act of 2023," seeks to amend the state's current law, redefining a "person" to include a fertilised egg at the point of conception, affording that zygote "equal protection under the homicide laws of the state" .

Lawmakers in the US state of South Carolina are all set to bring in a bill that would make a woman who had an abortion eligible for the death penalty. The bill called "South Carolina Prenatal Equal Protection Act of 2023," seeks to amend the state's current law, redefining a "person" to include a fertilised egg at the point of conception, affording that zygote "equal protection under the homicide laws of the state" . Destroying it, therefore, will be punishable up to and including the death penalty, if the bill becomes law. Currently, South Carolina punishes abortion with a $1,000 fine and up to two years in prison. At least 13 US states have banned abortion following the Supreme Court's ruling to overturn Roe v Wade. Here's everything you need to know about the bill: Abortion rule in South Carolina: Abortion is currently legal in South Carolina but up to 21 weeks and 6 days; outlawing a 2021 ban, where abortion at six weeks was struck down by the US top court, CNBC News reported. This is not the first time a US lawmaker has introduced the death penalty, which is one of the harshest punishments. Back in March 2021, Texas state Rep. Bryan Slaton proposed legislation that would not only ban abortion but would also criminalise it, and might even lead up to the death penalty, the Texas Tribune reported. However, the bill, like other similar legislations, was not passed. 'Life needs to be protected' The bill authored by State Rep Rob Harris implies that getting an abortion is the same as committing homicide, Business Insider reported. The bill was initially pre-filed in December but now sits in the Judiciary Committee. Till now, 21 lawmakers have agreed to the bill. Harris told local media, "if we call and define it (fertilised egg) as a life, then why should anyone be able to take that life. If it's life, it need to be protected like any other life." Harris said, “Murder of the pre-born is harsh.” He added that the bill aims to ensure that an unborn child who is a victim of assault is offered equal protection under the assault laws of the state, but with exceptions. Advocates of "Planned Parenthood" opposes the bill: A spokesperson for "Planned Parenthood," Vicki Ringer criticised the bill. He told WBTW, "That's a hard pill to swallow for anybody.To recognise that you are not valuable. To call this equal protection, it is far from equal. It is giving greater weight to a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus than it is to a human being. You can consider a fetus to be a person, but you can't consider it to have more weight than the living person who is a life fully lived on this planet." Rep Nancy Mace, who represents South Carolina in the US House said that she sees the bill as a "deeply disturbing" trend.

US: South Carolina lawmakers propose 'death penalty' for women who had abortions

south-carolina-abortion

South Carolina Abortion, News on South Carolina Abortion, stories on South Carolina Abortion, articles on South Carolina Abortion, South Carolina Abortion stories at Wion, South Carolina Abortion news, South Carolina Abortion latest news

south carolina-abortion

South Carolina judge temporarily blocks abortion ban, pending Supreme Court review

US: South Carolina lawmakers propose 'death penalty' for women who had abortions