SC’s 6-week abortion ban can now take effect after judge ends temporary block
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South Carolina’s abortion ban at about six weeks can now take effect after a federal judge stayed an injunction on the books for nearly two years.
The order comes a few days after the U.S. Supreme Court overruled its 1973 decision Roe v. Wade, sending the power back to the states to decide whether to restrict legal access to abortion.
Late Monday, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that federal Judge Mary Geiger Lewis stayed an injunction that was blocking the state law, considered a “fetal heartbeat” abortion ban, from taking effect.
“The Heartbeat Law is now in effect. Once Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, the decision on legally protecting the lives of unborn babies was returned to the states, so there was no longer any basis for blocking South Carolina’s Heartbeat Law,” Wilson said in a statement. “Our state is now carrying out a government’s most sacred and fundamental duty, protecting life.”
Gov. Henry McMaster applauded the announcement, tweeting, “countless unborn children will be saved because of this law.”
The law now requires doctors to perform ultrasounds to check for fetal cardiac activity, typically detected at about six weeks of pregnancy — when most women don’t know they are pregnant, critics argue. Exceptions include rape, incest, or if the mother’s life is in danger.
In a statement, Jenny Black, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, said that the “fight is far from over.”
“Planned Parenthood South Atlantic’s doors are open in Charleston and Columbia. We are providing abortion care in full compliance with Senate Bill 1, and we encourage anyone seeking an abortion to contact our office,” Black said.
“After last week’s harmful Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, it’s clear that the best path to protect abortion access in South Carolina after around six weeks of pregnancy does not run through our existing federal court case.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
