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Judge denies Planned Parenthood's motion to pause South Carolina's six-week abortion ban

Planned Parenthood filed a motion in February asking the court to put a pause on the six-week abortion ban.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A motion filed by Planned Parenthood in February to put a pause to South Carolina's six-week abortion ban has been denied by a circuit court judge

The nonprofit argued that the bill was not clear enough when it comes to the timeline of when fetal heartbeats can be detected. 

RELATED: 6 or 9 weeks? Planned Parenthood back in court in South Carolina, seeking injunction on fetal heartbeat law

Circuit Court Judge Daniel Coble denied the motion, saying that the court did not take the decision lightly. He went on to say that the case was not about deciding constitutionality but about determining lawmakers' intent when passing the bill.  

RELATED: Judge hears arguments in South Carolina fetal heartbeat abortion case

Coble went on to say that the General Assembly clearly intended for the bill to mean the six-week mark. The judge also referenced the frequent use of six weeks in the SC Supreme Court case last year. 

Coble said the term "fetal heartbeat" is somewhat vague, but it does not meet the standard to be considered unconstitutional. 

Neither the state nor Planned Parenthood had responded to the decision as of Thursday evening.

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