SC Supreme Court strikes down six week abortion ban, cites privacy concerns in law

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - In a 3-2 vote the South Carolina Supreme Court struck down the state’s six week abortion ban.

The ruling said the law violates constitutional rights to privacy, “Six weeks is, quite simply, not a reasonable period of time” for a woman to know she is pregnant and “take reasonable steps to terminate that pregnancy.”

Thursday’s ruling is the latest step in a lengthy legal battle that began in 2022 after the United States Supreme Court struck down Roe v Wade’s legal precedent that protected abortion access. It kicked off a series of state legislatures and laws across the country that made obtaining an abortion more difficult.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued a statement in response to Thursday’s ruling, “We respectfully, but strongly, disagree with the Court’s ruling. We’re working with the Governor’s office and legislature to review all our available options moving forward.”

The White House weighed in on Thursday’s decision, “We are encouraged by South Carolina’s Supreme Court ruling today on the state’s extreme and dangerous abortion ban. Women should be able to make their own decisions about their bodies.”

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The full ruling can be read below.

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