South Carolina’s all-male highest court upholds six-week abortion ban The court on Wednesday found that the state constitution’s protection against “unreasonable invasions of privacy” did not include a right to abortion, and that the state law was “within the zone of reasonable policy decisions rationally related to the state’s interest in protecting the unborn”. Read … Read more
The court struck down a nearly identical version of the law in January, ruling it violated South Carolina’s constitutional right to privacy. But that 3-2 opinion was written by Justice Kaye Hearn, the court’s only woman. Hearn has since been replaced after reaching mandatory retirement age, and the justices are now all men. Read more … Read more
The law marks a significant setback for abortion-rights advocates in the state. Prior to this measure, abortions were legal in South Carolina until 22 weeks, though a lack of access and other restrictions often prevented women from getting abortions after 12 weeks in the state. Read more at The Hill
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, a candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, says the state’s recently passed six-week abortion ban is “good news.” Read more at The Hill
Republican lawmakers in Nebraska, North Carolina and South Carolina all found ways to revive restrictive abortion bans in their states. Read more at Huffpost
South Carolina House passes six-week abortion ban If all three of these bans go into effect, North Carolina will be the only state in the South to allow abortion through the first trimester. The procedure is currently banned in Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee; it is only allowed up to six weeks in Georgia. … Read more
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley downplays federal abortion ban Despite her hardline position, the Republican presidential candidate is now attempting to soften that image by detaching herself from talk of a federal ban. The disappointing result of the party in last November’s midterm elections was widely attributed to Republican messaging on abortion, which stands starkly … Read more
Three states, all with Republican supermajorities, are poised to debate and vote on abortion bans Tuesday, potentially further chipping away access to care across the country and creating an abortion desert across the South. Read more at 19th News
Consequences of an all-male high court are especially pronounced in this state, which consistently ranks at the bottom of lists measuring women’s well-being. Read more at Pro Publica via Talking Points Memo
North Carolina: Mark Robinson attracts scrutiny as extremist in Republican race Robinson said on Saturday he wants to make North Carolina a “destination state for life”, including support for preventing abortions about six weeks after fertilization. State law now bans nearly all abortions after 20 weeks. Read more at The Guardian The North Carolina governor’s … Read more
