Georgia sued over ‘heartbeat’ abortion ban

Abortion rights groups are challenging Georgia’s six-week abortion ban, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional.” 

“This legislation is blatantly unconstitutional under nearly 50 years of U.S. Supreme Court precedent. Politicians should never second guess women’s health care decisions,” said Sean J. Young, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Georgia.

“Politicians have no business telling women or a couple when to start or expand a family.” 

{mosads}The lawsuit, brought on behalf of several abortion providers, was filed by the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights.

The law, which passed earlier this year, is slated to take effect Jan. 1.

It is one of a number of restrictive abortion laws passed recently by GOP-led state legislatures in an attempt to get the Supreme Court to revisit Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that established a woman’s right to abortion. 

Federal judges this year blocked a similar ban in Mississippi, while a challenge to a six-week ban passed in Kentucky is pending. 

Opponents of six-week abortion bans say most women do not know they are pregnant at that point. 

A spokeswoman for Georgia’s attorney general said they are unable to comment on pending litigation.

Updated at 10:10 a.m.