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Most abortions after 20 weeks now illegal in Georgia

Janice McFarland (center) holds a pro life sign during the Georgia March for Life in Atlanta in January. Jonathan Phillips / For the AJC
Janice McFarland (center) holds a pro life sign during the Georgia March for Life in Atlanta in January. Jonathan Phillips / For the AJC
By Bill Rankin
May 26, 2016

The state's anti-abortion forces notched a victory in Fulton County Superior Court last October when a judge threw out a challenge to the state's "fetal pain" abortion law.

The ruling removed an injunction that had kept the state from enforcing the law, which was passed in 2012 but never took effect after three obstetricians and the ACLU challenged it.

But the anti-abortion forces weren't celebrating, and the pro-choice forces weren't complaining, because very few people actually knew about the ruling. Somehow the word didn't reach them.

The upshot: Most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy are now prohibited, and doctors in the state can be charged with a felony for performing them.

They just didn't know it, until now. Find out about the "fetal pain" law and how Wednesday's ruling affects it.

About the Author

Bill Rankin has been an AJC reporter for more than 30 years. His father, Jim Rankin, worked as an editor for the newspaper for 26 years, retiring in 1986. Bill has primarily covered the state’s court system, doing all he can do to keep the scales of justice on an even keel. Since 2015, he has been the host of the newspaper’s Breakdown podcast.

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