A judge is considering whether to block Georgia's new law that bans abortions after 20 weeks from taking effect January 1.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia filed a lawsuit on behalf of three obstetricians challenging the law's constitutionality.

The suit says the law forces doctors to make an "untenable choice" since they would face criminal prosecution for providing treatment their patients seek.

Alexa Kolbi-Molinas with the ACLU says the law would get between a woman and her doctor.

She says “And it was essentially undisputed between both parties that women’s health and lives and wellbeing would be threatened if this law was to go into effect.”

A lawyer for the state argued that blocking the law from taking effect would harm the state by going against the will of the Legislature.

The law does provide exceptions to save the life and health of the mother. There’s also an exception for fetal anomalies that would result in the fetus' death. State Representative Doug McKillup sponsored the law. He says there’s medical evidence that a fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks.

He says “ I look forward to saving about three babies a day. We’ll eliminate having Georgia be a destination location for barbaric late-term abortions in this country.”

The judge said she would rule on whether to grant the injunction sometime this week or next week. There’s no date set yet for a hearing on the constitutionality of the law itself.

Contributors: AP

Tags: abortion, ACLU, abortion lawsuit, 20 weeks