Judge extends hold on S.C. abortion law

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A new South Carolina law banning abortions will remain on hold, after a judge extended a temporary restraining order Friday.

U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis’ extension runs through March 19. Her original order, issued last month, had been set to expire at midnight Friday. On Monday, Lewis is to preside over a hearing on Planned Parenthood’s request for an injunction halting the law altogether while a lawsuit seeking to overturn it is resolved.

Lewis initially suspended the “South Carolina Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act” on its second day in effect after a lawsuit from Planned Parenthood. The measure requires doctors to perform ultrasounds to check for fetal heartbeats, which can typically be detected about six weeks after conception. If one is detected, the abortion can be performed only if the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest, or the mother’s life is in danger.

The new law doesn’t punish a pregnant woman for getting an illegal abortion, but the person who performs the procedure can be charged with a felony, sentenced up to two years in prison and fined $10,000 if found guilty.

Opponents of the state’s ban have argued that many women don’t know they are pregnant at six weeks, especially if they are not trying to conceive.

About a dozen other states have passed similar or more restrictive abortion bans, which could take effect if the U.S. Supreme Court were to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 court decision supporting abortion rights. Federal law supersedes state law.