Washington D.C., May 30, 2023 / 13:25 pm
A South Carolina judge temporarily blocked the state’s recently passed six-week “heartbeat” abortion ban on May 26.
South Carolina’s heartbeat law, which bans abortion after an unborn baby’s heartbeat is detectable, which is often around six weeks, was signed into law by Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, on May 25. The bill was set to take effect immediately.
The day after being signed into law, State Circuit Court Judge Clifton Newman of Richland County, South Carolina, granted Planned Parenthood South Atlantic’s request for an injunction, temporarily blocking the heartbeat law.
For the time being then, abortion will remain legal in South Carolina up until 22 weeks of pregnancy.