(VitalNews.org) – In a decisive victory for pro-life advocates, the Georgia Supreme Court has temporarily reinstated the state’s near-ban on abortions after overturning a lower court ruling that had struck down the law.
The Georgia Supreme Court’s ruling comes in response to a request from Republican Attorney General Chris Carr.
This temporary halt allows the state to appeal a ruling by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, who had suspended the six-week abortion restriction on shaky constitutional grounds.
Georgia’s life-affirming law was signed in 2019 and implemented after the landmark overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
The law bans most abortions once a “detectable human heartbeat” is present – typically around six weeks into pregnancy.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp criticized Judge McBurney’s initial decision to strike down the law.
In his statement, Kemp pointed out that one judge’s personal beliefs should not override the will of the people and their elected representatives.
“Protecting the lives of the most vulnerable among us is one of our most sacred responsibilities, and Georgia will continue to be a place where we fight for the lives of the unborn,” he added.
Pro-life organization Georgia Life Alliance voiced support for the Supreme Court’s decision.
It expressed valid concerns about the potential increase in women seeking abortions from other states.
While leftwing groups like SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective criticized the decision for allegedly denying necessary healthcare, pro-life advocates argue that true healthcare protects both mother and child.
This reinstatement of Georgia’s pro-life law aligns the state with thirteen others that have total abortion bans and four that have bans around the sixth week of pregnancy.
As the Georgia Supreme Court considers the state’s appeal, pro-life advocates remain hopeful that this temporary reinstatement will become permanent.
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