Judge Strikes Down Major Provisions Of ‘Fetal Heartbeat’ Law
by March 14, 2014 3:59 pm 112 views
U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright struck down major provisions of a new Arkansas law that would ban abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Wright said in her ruling that viability – the ability of the fetus to live outside of a mother’s womb – not a heartbeat was the key factor in whether an abortion should be allowed.
The law was a controversial one. In the 2013 legislative session, lawmakers overrode a veto by Gov. Mike Beebe, who claimed the 12-week “fetal heartbeat” bill was unconstitutional.
Wright’s decision allowed a provision of the law intact that requires a doctor to check for a fetal heartbeat and to notify a pregnant woman if one is present.