A South Carolina judge has approved abortion providers’ request to block a newly enacted abortion ban for six weeks while a legal challenge continues, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic confirmed to ABC News.
Planned Parenthood, one of the providers involved in the lawsuit, celebrated the decision on Twitter.
Note: The video in the media player is from a previous report.
Governor Henry McMaster signed the ban into law on Thursday after passing it in the Senate earlier this week.
The new ban bans all abortions after fetal heart activity is detected, which generally occurs at six weeks of gestation, with limited exceptions. Anyone violating the prohibition is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined $10,000 and face up to two years in prison or both.
Doctors or medical providers found guilty of performing illegal abortions will also have their licenses revoked.
The suit challenging the ban was filed by Planned Parenthood and the Women’s Clinic of Greenville. She claims that the ban violates constitutional rights to privacy, equal protection, and due process.
“Today, the Court granted our patients a welcome reprieve from this risky abortion ban. Our doors remain open, and we are here to provide compassionate, judgment-free health care to all South Carolinians. While we have a long battle ahead of us, we will,” said Jenny Black, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood in South Atlantic, in a statement on Friday: “Don’t stop until our patients are free again to make their own decisions about their bodies and their futures.”
McMaster signed the so-called “heartbeat ban” into law back in 2021, but the state Supreme Court struck it down in January.
Fifteen states have suspended nearly all abortion services since the US Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, ending federal protections of abortion rights.
The White House criticized the ban in a statement late Thursday. White House press secretary Karen Jean-Pierre said South Carolina’s “draconian and dangerous” ban on abortions over the past six weeks “will criminalize health care providers and cause delays and denials of life-saving health care.”
“Banning South Carolina would cut off access to abortion for women in the state and those throughout the region who consider South Carolina their closest option of care,” Jean-Pierre said.
This is a developing story. . Please check back for updates
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