District Attorneys Across Atlanta Rebuke Georgia's Heartbeat Bill

By: Da'Zhane Johnson

A few weeks ago, the internet fired back with protests after the signing of Georgia’s

“heartbeat bill” by Governor Brian Kemp. Moreover, the debate of abortion rose to an ultimate high that couldn’t be avoided anymore.

The law is said to be the most restrictive ban on abortion in decades and has been predicted to challenge the ruling of Roe vs. Wade. Not only does the bill prohibit abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be predicted but it outlines the consequences for this offense. In fact, penalties are held up to 10 years in prison.

Critics have pointed out that often a woman may not even know she is pregnant beforehand to get the abortion in the elapsed time given by the bill.

However, the district attorneys of the Atlanta area have vowed to not prosecute women

who receive abortions once the bill goes in affect – which is January 1st .

“DA Howard has no intention of ever prosecuting a woman under this new law,” said Chris

Hopper, director of public affairs for the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office.

Other attorneys across neighboring counties have went a further step by vowing to not

prosecute any doctors or nurses either. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reached out to the 49

district attorneys in the area for their opinions on the bill. Here several attorneys highlighted how the bill was against one’s constitutional rights.

“I will exercise my discretion not to prosecute women and doctors for exercising their

constitutional rights,” Macon District Attorney David Cooke said. “It’s unfortunate that this law

may turn a miscarriage into a crime scene, and I will not allow that to happen on my watch.”

Since the bill has vague language, many of these attorneys feel that it would not be legal

to enforce. Nonetheless, both sides of the debate are hoping that the bill is discussed in court

further.

Sources:

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2019/03/30/Georgia-legislature-passes-heartbeat-abortion-bill/8641553948809/

https://www.theroot.com/come-jan-1-abortion-will-be-virtually-outlawed-in-the-1834598390