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Federal Judge Strikes Down Arkansas's 12-Week Abortion Ban

State Sen. Jason Rapert (file photo).
Michael Hibblen
/
KUAR News

A federal judge has struck down Arkansas' attempt to ban most abortions beginning 12 weeks into a woman's pregnancy, saying viability, not a heartbeat, remains the key factor in determining whether abortions should be allowed.

U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright last year had stopped enforcement of the law.

The Republican-controlled Legislature passed it over Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe's objections.

The judge made her decision final Friday. Wright said the 12-week ban undermined U.S. Supreme Court decisions that have said a fetus' ability to live outside the womb should be the controlling factor on whether abortions may occur.

She left in place a portion of the law that requires doctors to check for a fetal heartbeat and to notify the pregnant woman if one is present.

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