WASHINGTON — Weeks after the US Supreme Court’s controversial abortion ruling, a federal court ruled that the state of Georgia may have stricter rules on abortion in the future.
The federal appeals court ruled that the so-called heartbeat law could go into effect immediately. Accordingly, women in the state are no longer allowed to terminate their pregnancies after the fetal heartbeat has been determined. This can happen in the sixth week of pregnancy. Georgia law was in court for many years.
The judges said the Supreme Court decision paved the way for the law to take effect: The Supreme Court decision made it clear that the Constitution does not provide for abortion rights, so Georgia can restrict it, the ruling said. Georgia law provides exceptions for rape and incest cases reported to the police. A subsequent abortion is also allowed if the mother’s life is in danger or the fetus is not viable.
In late June, the Supreme Court overturned the nearly 50-year right to abortion, arguing that it was not enshrined in the Constitution. Since there is no statewide law protecting abortion rights, the law is now with the states. Republican-ruled states in particular are trying to implement restrictive abortion laws as quickly as possible. They are sometimes stopped again, at least temporarily, by local courts.
