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Chief Judge William Pryor of the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals wrote for a unanimous three-judge panel that
the state had a "rational basis" for the law, given its interest
in "providing full legal recognition to an unborn child."
Georgia passed the law, which also defines "person" to include
an "unborn child," in 2019. A federal judge blocked it that
October before it could take effect, finding it violated the
right to abortion established by the U.S. Supreme Court in its
1973 landmark Roe v. Wade ruling.
However, the Supreme Court last month overturned that ruling,
clearing the way for Wednesday's decision.
The law took effect after the 11th Circuit, in an unusual move,
issued a separate order about two hours after its decision
staying the trial court’s injunction.
"This is a grave human rights violation, and Planned Parenthood,
along with its partners, will do everything in our power to
fight back and ensure all people can get the health care they
need, regardless of where they live," Alexis McGill Johnson,
president of Planned Parenthood, one of the providers in the
lawsuit, said in a statement.
The office of Georgia Attorney General Christopher Carr did not
immediately respond to a request for comment.
About half of U.S. states have or are expected to seek to ban or
curtail abortions following the Supreme Court's June 24 ruling.
Judges have largely upheld the laws against legal challenges,
though some, including in Utah and Kentucky, have been blocked
for now.
The Georgia law includes exceptions for medical emergencies, and
for cases of rape or incest where a police report was filed.
(Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Alexia
Garamfalvi, Jonathan Oatis and Diane Craft)
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