Federal judge voids Georgia 'heartbeat' abortion restriction

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Jeff Amy, Associated Press
Updated 5:01 pm CDT, Monday, July 13, 2020

ATLANTA (AP) — A federal judge on Monday permanently blocked Georgia's 2019 “heartbeat" abortion law, finding that it violates the U.S. Constitution.

U.S. District Judge Steve Jones ruled against the state in a lawsuit filed by abortion providers and an advocacy group. Jones had temporarily blocked the law in October, and it never went into effect. The new ruling permanently enjoins the state from ever enforcing House Bill 481.

Georgia's measure sought to ban abortions once a “detectable human heartbeat” was present, with some limited exceptions. Cardiac activity can be detected by ultrasound as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, before many women realize they’re pregnant, according to a legal challenge. The bill narrowly passed the Georgia General Assembly amid intense lobbying for and against.

Those who challenged the lawsuit said the ruling proves their contention that the measure was unconstitutional. Lead plaintiff SisterSong, an Atlanta-based group that fights abortion restrictions on behalf of African American and other women of color, called it a “huge win for bodily autonomy.”

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/article/Federal-judge-strikes-down-Georgia-abortion-15404989.php

[RhodeIslandOne]

1. Good

The birth cult will be infuriated.

[iluvtennis]

2. Excellent news.

[JudyM]

3. Good decision!

[niyad]

4. Excellent. One battle won in the ongoing, escalating, War Against Women.

[CTyankee]

7. Their goal, I am sure, is to wear us out with these kinds of laws.

Fortunately, every time they do we get new recruits of angry women ready to fight for their rights.

[niyad]

9. Exactly. And many of us are still here from pre-Roe, still angry, still fighting.

[LiberalFighter]

5. The doctor should be treating the patient.

The fetus is not a patient and not covered under insurance.
Pregnancy is a medical condition. Covered under insurance. The woman if she has insurance is covered. But not the fetus.

There is no other situation where a patient is forced to continue with their medical condition. If a patient has a cancer tumor they get to decide with the help of the doctor whether to have it removed or leave it alone. There is no requirement for a person with a heart attack forcing them to continue having a heart attack. There is no requirement for a man to be circumcised. All are decisions that the person decides for their own welfare.


Legislators should only legislate for citizens. Fetuses are not citizens.

[Bayard]

6. I'm sure rethuglicans are working on that

Citizenship is granted upon conception.

[ProfessorGAC]

8. That Sure Would Have Spoiled Birtherism!

Unintended consequences for them.
BHO would have been a citizen 9 months before he was born!!!