South Carolina Republican state senator Katrina Frye Shealy debates a six-week abortion ban at the state legislature in Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. May 23, 2023.
REUTERS/Sam Wolfe/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 23 (Reuters) - South Carolina's highest court on Wednesday upheld a new state law banning abortion after fetal heart activity is detected, usually around six weeks of pregnancy, months after it blocked a similar ban.
"With this victory, we protect the lives of countless unborn children and reaffirm South Carolina's place as one of the most pro-life states in America," South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, a Republican, said in a statement.
The new law came after the state Supreme Court in January struck down a previous abortion law, by a 3-2 vote.
South Carolina's Republican legislature in February replaced Hearn, who was the sole woman on the five-member court, with Justice Garrison Hill, who voted to uphold the new law on Wednesday.
Persons:
Katrina Frye, Sam Wolfe, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, Justice Kaye Hearn, Hearn, Justice Garrison Hill, John Few, Donald Beatty, Brendan Pierson, Jonathan Oatis
Organizations:
South, South Carolina Republican, REUTERS, South Carolina Supreme, South Carolina Governor, Republican, Democrat, South Carolina's Republican, Justice, Thomson
Locations:
South Carolina, Columbia , South Carolina, U.S, America, South Carolina's, New York