One Step Forward, Three Steps Back: How Georgia is Limiting Their Citizens’ Rights to an Abortion
On November 15, in Fulton County, Georgia, Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney determined that the state’s heartbeat bill was unconstitutional and overturned it. The heartbeat bill makes it illegal for a mother to receive an abortion after a “fetal heartbeat” can be detected by ultrasound, typically as early as six weeks of pregnancy. Heartbeat bills are also in effect in other states like Texas, South Carolina, Ohio, and Oklahoma. As an actual fetal heartbeat cannot be detected until 17-22 weeks of pregnancy, medical professionals and pro-choice advocates have criticized these bills for their misleading language.
Judge McBurney’s ruling allowed women in Georgia up to 22 weeks of pregnancy to receive an abortion just like in states like California. The overturning of this bill came as no surprise due to the fact that Fulton County houses democratic cities like Atlanta and Union City and the people in the county were joyful, knowing that this was a step in the right direction towards reproductive justice. Abortion providers in Fulton County resumed giving abortions up to 22 weeks. However, Republicans and pro-lifers in Georgia didn’t bat an eye due to their assumption that the Supreme Court of Georgia would quickly reverse this new ruling.
Just as the pro-lifers expected, the Georgia Supreme Court quickly swooped in and reinstated the six-week ban on abortion in the state, effectively canceling Judge McBurney‘s ruling immediately.
Georgians are split; some are outraged that the 6-week ban was reinstated and some are ecstatic that Judge McBurney’s ruling was quickly overturned. However, nothing denies the fact that the Georgia Supreme Court is still restricting a woman’s right to choose.
Sources:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/23/georgia-abortion-ban-reinstated/
https://www.abortionfinder.org/abortion-guides-by-state/abortion-in-california
