COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) 鈥� The South Carolina Supreme Court on Wednesday temporarily blocked the state's 鈥渇etal heartbeat鈥� law banning abortion around six weeks as lawmakers across the street were considering new restrictions.
The restrictions, previously blocked by federal courts, took effect shortly after the . With federal abortion protections gone, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic sued under the state constitution's privacy protections. For the time being, abortion is once again legal from 20 weeks of pregnancy in the state.
鈥淎t this preliminary stage, we are unable to determine with finality the constitutionality of the Act under our state鈥檚 constitutional prohibition against unreasonable invasions of privacy,鈥� the Court wrote in its order granting a preliminary injunction.
Meanwhile, the South Carolina Senate had just started taking its first steps toward further abortion restrictions. The Medical Affairs Committee listened to nearly nine hours of invited testimony and public comment Wednesday as they consider language for another abortion bill. On Tuesday, the South Carolina House Judiciary Committee with no exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Jenny Black, the President of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, said the fight was 鈥渇ar from over.鈥�
鈥淲e applaud the court鈥檚 decision to protect the people of South Carolina from this cruel law that interferes with a person鈥檚 private medical decision,鈥� Black said. 鈥淔or more than six weeks, patients have been forced to travel hundreds of miles for an abortion or suffer the life-altering consequences of forced pregnancy."
Speaker of the House Murrell Smith said on Twitter that he was extremely disappointed in the decision, but remained confident the measure would ultimately hold up.
鈥淭he law is the overwhelming will of the South Carolina Legislature, and therefore a reflection of the will of the people of this state,鈥� Smith said.
The justices noted that the legislature held authority to make public policy decisions within the restraints of the U.S. and South Carolina constitutions. On the Senate side, committee members emphasized they were not considering any specific measures at the moment.
The state鈥檚 recently implemented and now blocked six-week abortion ban loomed large in Wednesday鈥檚 deliberations. Abortion opponents said it had not gone far enough. Supporters of abortion access said its effects showed any new restrictions would be even more harmful.
Several doctors invited to speak by Democratic Sen. Brad Hutto outlined the ways the six-week ban had made their jobs more difficult.
Since the act took effect, doctors reported an inability to treat miscarriages because pharmacies had stopped carrying necessary medications in case doing so might be illegal. Lawyers were unwilling to advise them in case their comments might run afoul of the law. Some patients were scared to divulge their full menstrual history out of fear it may be used against them.
鈥淚t鈥檚 cruel and it鈥檚 creating stress and delays in what is already a tragic situation,鈥� said Dr. Amy Crockett, a physician with board certification in obstetrics and gynecology.
Outside of the State House, about 50 demonstrators with Planned Parenthood gathered under a tent for a watch party. Protesters ate pizza and organizers provided snacks to those coming in and out of the committee meeting. As news of the court's decision spread, they celebrated with hugs and high fives.
Hutto said he does not expect the ruling to affect lawmakers' schedule. The Senate Medical Affairs Committee will present a report on Sept. 6, when the entire upper chamber will convene to discuss abortion restrictions for the first time since January 2021's contentious debate.
Since those discussions, the Supreme Court has opened the door for measures previously considered not politically feasible by leading drafters of the upper chamber's 鈥渇etal heartbeat鈥� bill.
At that time, Republican Sen. Larry Grooms said that proposal posed 鈥渢he greatest chance for life for unborn children.鈥� Grooms said then that exceptions in cases of rape or incest would be necessary to garner enough support for the measure鈥檚 passage.
While Hutto said the upper chamber typically takes a more 鈥渢houghtful, measured approach,鈥� questions around the issue's changing politics remain.
鈥淣ow that the legal obstacle has moved out of the way, will they change their minds?鈥� Hutto said to The Associated Press.
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For AP鈥檚 full coverage of the Supreme Court ruling on abortion, go to: .
James Pollard, The Associated Press
