ATLANTA — A federal appeals court ruled on Wednesday that Georgia’s heartbeat abortion law should be allowed to take effect, Action News Jax’s sister station WSB-TV in Atlanta reports.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit handed down the decision one month after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
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Georgia’s law would ban abortions at the first sign of a fetal heartbeat, around six weeks into a pregnancy. The law does have exceptions for medical emergencies, rape or incest, and if the pregnancy is no longer viable.
The law was signed by Gov. Brian Kemp in May 2019 with the idea it would go into effect beginning in Jan. 2020 before several groups filed suit against the state.
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This is a developing story. Watch FOX30 Action News Jax at 4 p.m. for the latest from both sides on the abortion ruling.
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