The Georgia Supreme Court has halted a ruling that struck down the state’s near-ban on abortions while it considers the state’s appeal. The ruling last week found that Georgia unconstitutionally prohibits abortions beyond about six weeks of pregnancy, often before women realize they’re pregnant. The state Supreme Court put the ruling on hold at the request of Republican state Attorney General Chris Carr, who is appealing the decision.
In response to the high court’s decision, Clare Bartlett, executive director of the Georgia Life Alliance, called it “appropriate,” expressing concerns that women from other states would begin coming to Georgia for surgical abortions. Bartlett argued that there is no right to privacy in the abortion process because there is another individual involved, emphasizing the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals who cannot speak for themselves.
Monica Simpson, executive director of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, criticized the state Supreme Court for siding with anti-abortion extremists. Her group is among the plaintiffs challenging the state law, and she stated that every minute the harmful six-week abortion ban is in place, Georgians suffer. Simpson believes that denying community members the lifesaving care they deserve jeopardizes their lives, safety, and health for the sake of power and control over their bodies.
Leaders of carafem, an Atlanta abortion provider, expressed dismay at the law’s reinstatement, as they had planned to expand their services after the initial ruling. Melissa Grant, the provider’s chief operating officer, stated that carafem will continue to offer abortion services following the letter of the law. However, she expressed anger and disappointment at the decision and hopes for a more sensible point of view that aligns with the people who need care.
Georgia’s restrictive abortion law, signed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in 2019, prohibited most abortions once a detectable human heartbeat was present, usually around six weeks into a pregnancy. The law also includes criminal penalties for providers who perform illegal abortions, risking up to 10 years in prison and potential loss of their medical licenses. The state Supreme Court’s order exempted one specific provision regarding health records, but reinstated the overall ban on abortions beyond six weeks of pregnancy.
The judge’s ruling rolled back abortion limits in Georgia to a prior law that allowed abortions until viability, around 22 to 24 weeks into a pregnancy. Gov. Kemp criticized the decision, stating that the will of Georgians and their representatives had been overruled by the personal beliefs of one judge. The legal battle over Georgia’s abortion law continues, with implications for women’s rights and healthcare access in the state.
