Georgia Supreme Court Reinstates Six-Week Abortion Ban Amid Ongoing Legal Battle
ATLANTA – The Georgia Supreme Court reinstated the state’s six-week abortion ban on Monday, effective at 5 p.m. local time, while it reviews an appeal of a lower court ruling that had previously struck down the law. This decision means most abortions will again be illegal in Georgia after six weeks of pregnancy.
The law, signed by Republican Governor Brian Kemp in 2019 and known as the LIFE Act, prohibits abortion when a fetal heartbeat is detected, often as early as six weeks, before many women are aware they are pregnant. It does provide exceptions to protect the woman’s life and health and in cases of fetal anomalies. Notably, the Supreme Court allowed a lower court decision to stand that blocked a provision granting state prosecutors extensive access to abortion patients’ medical records without due process protections.
Last week, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney ruled that the six-week ban violated personal liberty, asserting that a woman should have the autonomy to make decisions regarding her body without state interference until a fetus reaches viability. The ruling had temporarily allowed abortions up to 22 weeks.
Reproductive rights advocates have condemned the Supreme Court’s decision, emphasizing the risks it poses to women’s health. Notably, the cases of Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller—two Black women who died in 2022 after complications related to abortion pills—have drawn attention. Vice President Kamala Harris has highlighted their tragic stories, stressing the law’s potential to endanger lives.
"This ban has wreaked havoc on Georgians’ lives, and our patients deserve better," stated Kwajelyn Jackson, Executive Director of the Feminist Women’s Health Center. Planned Parenthood Southeast echoed similar sentiments, calling the ruling an egregious infringement on fundamental rights. As the legal battle unfolds, access to abortion care remains a pivotal issue in Georgia’s political landscape.
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