South Carolina Supreme Court Unanimously Rules to Uphold State’s 6-Week Abortion Ban

The 5–0 decision this week came in response to a challenge to the current state law from Planned Parenthood.

The South Carolina State House in Columbia, South Carolina, on May 16, 2023. Logan Cyrus/AFP/Getty Images

The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled this week to uphold the state’s fetal heartbeat law, allowing the state to continue the ban on abortions starting at around six weeks of gestation.

The 5-0 decision, issued on Wednesday, came in response to a challenge from Planned Parenthood to the state law. The justices ruled that the medical language in the 2023 law was vague but noted that both opponents and supporters of the measure believe that it bans abortions after six weeks.