Judge Robert McBurney Strikes Down Georgia's Six-Week Abortion Ban, Allows Abortions Up to 22 Weeks

Sep 30, 2024, 08:07 PM

A state court judge in Georgia has struck down the state's six-week abortion ban, ruling it unconstitutional under the state constitution. Fulton County Superior Judge Robert McBurney issued the order, which allows abortions to be performed up to 22 weeks of pregnancy. The law, which took effect in 2022 after a 2019 law was enacted in July 2022, had effectively prohibited abortions beyond about six weeks. The decision comes after the deaths of two pregnant patients who were unable to receive essential medical treatment due to the ban. The ruling emphasizes the right to privacy and liberty guaranteed by the Georgia constitution. An appeal to the state's supreme court is anticipated.