South Carolina’s All-Male Supreme Court Reinforces Six Week Abortion Ban

In another devastating blow to women’s reproductive rights, South Carolina’s all-male Supreme Court has upheld the state’s strict abortion ban. 

Back in May, South Carolina’s six-week abortion ban was halted pending the state’s Supreme Court’s review. That pause allowed the state to resume authorizing abortions up to 20 weeks for a short while longer.  However, a 4-1 ruling on Wednesday allowed the Republican-led state to move forward with its six-week law. The measure, known as the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act, went into effect immediately, leading to several scheduled procedures being canceled. A Planned Parenthood in Columbia confirmed they could only perform a “handful” of its scheduled abortions Wednesday, The Hill explained. 

Shockingly, Justice John Kittredge acknowledged banning abortions at six weeks infringes on “a woman’s right of privacy and bodily autonomy” but claims the stricter ban is in the best “interest of the unborn child to live,” seemingly declaring a fetus life more valuable than that of the woman forced to carry it. 

Justice Kaye Hearn, the only woman on South Carolina’s Supreme Court, retired earlier this year, leaving all men to make decisions regarding women’s bodies after she fought hard for access to abortion. 

With the state’s new regulation in place, doctors who perform abortions after the six-week mark face up to two years in prison and fines. An abortion is allowed up to 12 weeks if the mother’s life is at risk. Pregnancies that result from rape and incest will also be allowed abortions beyond the six-week mark.