[Free Beacon] A federal judge blocked Georgia's heartbeat bill from going into effect, striking a blow against the pro-life movement that has seen significant legislative achievements repeatedly blunted by the courts.District judge Steve C. Jones granted a preliminary injunction that prevents the state from enforcing a new law limiting abortions after a baby's heartbeat is detected, which typically occurs at six weeks. Jones said the bill potentially violates the privacy rights of women in the state. The ruling will preserve the state's existing abortion regulations until the court weighs the merits of the law.
Governor Brian Kemp (R.) signed the bill, dubbed the LIFE Act, into law in May. The law granted personhood rights to unborn children and banned most abortions with exceptions granted for cases of rape, incest, and health of the mother. Kemp said the law protects "those who cannot speak for themselves" and "reaffirms Georgia's commitment to life and the rights of the innocent unborn." The law was scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2020.
Lawyers for the Americans Civil Liberties Union challenged the bill on behalf of pro-abortion groups and requested Jones make a decision before the end of the year. Attorney Susan Talcott Camp argued any law that prohibits abortion before the point of fetal viability violates the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which struck down state restrictions on abortion, as well as the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision, which declared that state laws inhibiting abortion access were unconstitutional.