Abortion in Georgia (U.S. state)

Abortion in Georgia is illegal after detection of embryonic cardiac-cell activity,[1] which typically begins in the fifth or sixth week after the onset of the last menstrual period (LMP), two to three weeks after implantation.[2][3] Although this law was ruled unconstitutional by a Georgia superior court judge on September 30, 2024,[4] it remains in effect while the state appeals the ruling.[5]

The 6-week abortion ban came into force on July 20, 2022, almost a month after the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, No. 19-1392, 597 U.S. ___ (2022) ruling.[6][7] In 2007, mandatory ultrasound requirements were passed by state legislators. Georgia has continually sought to legislate against abortion at a state level since 2011. The most recent example, 2019's HB 481,[8] sought to make abortion illegal as soon as embryonic cardiac-cell activity can be detected; in most cases that is around the six-week mark of a pregnancy. An injunction was issued against this bill by a federal judge, who ruled that it contravened the Supreme Court's 1973 ruling. A poll conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2014 found that 49% of Georgians believed abortions should be illegal in all or most cases vs 48% legal in all or most cases.[9] The 2023 American Values Atlas reported that, in their most recent survey, 63% of Georgians said that abortion should be legal in all or most cases.[10]

The number of abortion clinics has been on the decline for many years, going from 82 in 1982 to 55 in 1992 and further falling to 17 in 2014. Due to tight restrictions in neighboring states, as well as cost issues, thousands of women come from out of state to have abortions in Georgia. There were 30,013 legal abortions in 2014, and 31,009 in 2015. 14.5% of all abortions carried out in 2015 were for out of state residents.[11] There is an active abortion rights movement in the state. This received a surge in donations following the passing of the state's controversial 2019 bill. Women from the state participated in marches supporting abortion rights as part of a #StoptheBans movement in May 2019.

Abortions after the fifth or sixth week of pregnancy are decriminalized in the Georgia cities of Atlanta[12] and Savannah.[13]

  1. ^ "Georgia HB481 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session". LegiScan. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  2. ^ Veronica Stracqualursi (20 July 2022). "Federal appeals court allows Georgia's six-week abortion ban to take effect immediately". CNN. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference six was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Sherman, Carter. "Georgia judge strikes down state's abortion ban, allowing care to resume". The Guardian. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2024Oct7ABC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ de Vogue, Ariane (June 24, 2022). "Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade". CNN. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  7. ^ Howe, Amy (June 24, 2022). "Supreme Court overturns constitutional right to abortion". SCOTUSblog. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  8. ^ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "Abortion Views in All 50 States: Findings from PRRI's 2023 American Values Atlas | PRRI". PRRI | At the intersection of religion, values, and public life. 2024-05-02. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference atl decrim was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Syed, Camille (July 22, 2022). "Savannah City Council adopts resolution supporting women's reproductive rights". WTOC. Retrieved September 28, 2022.