ATLANTA — A Supreme Court ruling over the state of Texas’ new abortion law is putting new focus on Georgia’s heartbeat law.
We saw legal challenges to Georgia’s heartbeat abortion law almost immediately after Gov. Brian Kemp signed it.
It would have prevented abortions at the first sign of a fetal heartbeat, about six weeks into a pregnancy.
The ACLU sued and won. A federal court judge ruled it was unconstitutional.
But a new U.S. Supreme Court decision will allow Texas to implement its version of the law. The Texas law also bans abortions at six weeks but, through some legal wrangling, doesn’t allow the state to enforce it.
Instead, their law allows private citizens to enforce it by suing abortion providers.
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Channel 2′s Richard Elliot spoke with two Republican candidates for lieutenant governor, State Sen. Butch Miller and Burt Jones about their reactions to the decision.
They both support the law and the Supreme Court decision. Both believe we could soon see Georgia lawmakers introducing bills similar to the one in Texas.
”There’s probably going to be several states that do something very similar to that. And I wouldn’t doubt it at all,” Jones said.
”I would be remiss if I did not tell you there’s a strong possibility that you’ll see additional legislation introduced,” Miller said.
Elliot also asked state Democrats about the ruling.
State Sen. Jen Jordan, who is running for attorney general, and Rep. Nikema Williams both oppose the Supreme Court’s decision, and wonder how it will impact the 11th Circuit’s decision on Georgia’s law.
”What the Supreme Court did, not deciding and letting the Texas law go into effect, I think that is going to impact members of the panel in the 11th Circuit,” Jordan said.
”I was sad and angry because this is an essential right for women to determine their health care needs in consultation with their doctors,” Williams said.
President Joe Biden announced Thursday that he would launch a full federal effort to respond to the new Texas law.
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear the Georgia appeals case on Sept. 24.
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