Georgia Supreme Court reinstates state abortion law while appeal is heard

ATLANTA — The Georgia Supreme Court has reinstated the state’s controversial heartbeat abortion law while an appeal from the Georgia Attorney General’s Office is being heard.

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Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney issued an order last week overturning the law, calling it unconstitutional. The next day, Attorney General Chris Carr filed an appeal.

He asked the Georgia Supreme Court to reinstate the law during the appeal process. On Monday, the Georgia Supreme Court granted a stay of the Superior Court’s order.

The order begins at 5 p.m. after which doctors cannot legally perform abortions if they detect fetal cardiac activity, which is usually seen at or around six weeks.

This is a developing story. Stay with WSBTV.com and Channel 2 Action News starting at 3:00 p.m.

Monica Simpson, executive director for SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, called the court’s decision “unconscionable.”

“Denying our community members the lifesaving care they deserve jeopardizes their lives, safety, and health—all for the sake of power and control over our bodies,” Simpson said.

“Elected officials in our state continue their disrespect of Georgia women, treating our bodies as state-owned property. We will persist, using all lawful means to restore dignity, full citizenship and a right to privacy for Georgia’s women,” ACLU executive director Andrea Young said.

RELATED STORIES:

• Georgia judge rules to overturn state’s heartbeat abortion law
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• Georgia heartbeat abortion law: AG appealing judge’s decision to overturn law

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Georgia judge rules to overturn state’s heartbeat abortion law

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