District judge Steve C. Jones
Posted on 10/02/2019 3:13:14 AM PDT by MarvinStinson
A federal judge blocked Georgia's heartbeat bill from going into effect, striking a blow against the pro-life movement that has seen significant legislative achievements repeatedly blunted by the courts.
District judge Steve C. Jones granted a preliminary injunction that prevents the state from enforcing a new law limiting abortions after a baby's heartbeat is detected, which typically occurs at six weeks. Jones said the bill potentially violates the privacy rights of women in the state. The ruling will preserve the state's existing abortion regulations until the court weighs the merits of the law.
Governor Brian Kemp (R.) signed the bill, dubbed the LIFE Act, into law in May. The law granted personhood rights to unborn children and banned most abortions with exceptions granted for cases of rape, incest, and health of the mother. Kemp said the law protects "those who cannot speak for themselves" and "reaffirms Georgia's commitment to life and the rights of the innocent unborn." The law was scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2020.
Lawyers for the Americans Civil Liberties Union challenged the bill on behalf of pro-abortion groups and requested Jones make a decision before the end of the year. Attorney Susan Talcott Camp argued any law that prohibits abortion before the point of fetal viability violates the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which struck down state restrictions on abortion, as well as the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision, which declared that state laws inhibiting abortion access were unconstitutional.
Pro-life groups criticized the decision. Terry Schilling, the executive director of the American Principles Project, ripped the decision as thwarting efforts to "defend life at its most vulnerable."
"Once again, the perverse logic of Roe v. Wade has reared its ugly head," he said. "It's long past time for the Supreme Court to finally do away with this disastrous precedent."
Planned Parenthood celebrated the ruling, saying it was committed to defending abortion in states that have adopted pro-life laws.
"This is a victory for Georgia and people all across the country," spokeswoman Barbara Ann Luttrell told CBS News. "We promise the people we serve and the people across the state to protect access to abortion and together we have."
Georgia is not the first state to see pro-life legislation thwarted by federal or state court judges. Several states that have passed similar heartbeat laws have temporarily halted implementation in the face of legal challenges from pro-abortion groups such as Planned Parenthood.
Georgia can still appeal the temporary injunction, which Judge Jones acknowledged in a September hearing. "I recognize I’m not going to be the last word on this case," he said when he began reviewing the law, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
District judge Steve C. Jones
Obola appointee? BillyBob? Peanut Farmer?
Obama appointee
Its a shame that this so-called judge has no respect for the rule of law. Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided and has zero support in the text of the Constitution.
IF CW2 happens and when it's over there will be a clarification of the role of the judiciary.
Next in the News
God blocks heartbeat of Judge in Georgia.
Judicial tyranny will be the fall of this country. Elections have cosequentions.
Judicial tyranny will be the fall of this country. Elections have cosequentions.
District Judge Steve C. Jones’ ruling stops House Bill 481 from taking effect Jan. 1 while the case plays out. Anti-abortion activists are hoping the case winds up in the U.S. Supreme Court.
appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2011.
Judge Jones: “Planned Parenthood has an important mission to ensure that women have choices. This ruling will ensure that they keep having those choices available and that their rights are not infringed, and in particular, the choice to abort their picaninnies. Right now almost half of black fetuses survive to be born. We must ensure that the women who are giving birth to these future felons make the right choice and not saddle society with the costs of incarceration of these beasts. My ruling will help prevent this continuing tragedy!”
This is easy, put billboards,signs out with the Judges Picture full of Margaret Sanger quotes all around abortion clinics, especially in black neighborhoods.
It will end up being sent up the judicial ladder.
We really really do not want to have the courts ending up with all the power to decide the weighty matters of this republic.
He looks happy in the task of making sure more babies of color aren’t brought into the Georgia World.
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