Tue May 30, 2023 – 1:24 pm EDT
COLUMBIA (LifeSiteNews) — South Carolina Circuit Judge Clifton Newman has temporarily blocked a ban on abortion for babies with detectable heartbeats, just a day after it was signed into law.
The Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act bans most abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, generally at the first six weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for rape and incest up to 12 weeks and exceptions for medical emergencies or fatal fetal abnormalities. It does not extend to babies younger than six weeks.
Republican Gov. Henry McMaster signed it last Thursday, while warning that he anticipated a legal battle and that his administration “stand[s] ready to defend this legislation against any challenges and are confident we will succeed. The right to life must be preserved, and we will do everything we can to protect it.”
On Friday, Newman granted a temporary stay against enforcing the law sought by Planned Parenthood and other abortion groups, Reuters reports, ruling that it needs to be reviewed by the South Carolina Supreme Court, which struck down a previous heartbeat law in January.
“I hope that the Supreme Court will take
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