Judge refuses to immediately block Georgia abortion ban

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney stands to see a potential juror as he asks about conflicts during proceedings to seat a special purpose grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, on Monday, May 2, 2022. McBurney ruled Monday that he did not have the authority to issue a preliminary injunction and block the law at this stage of the lawsuit. He stressed that his decision did not touch on the merits of the case, which will continue. (AP Photo/Ben Gray)

A state judge refused Monday to immediately stop enforcement of Georgia’s restrictive abortion law, which took effect last month and bans most abortions once fetal cardiac activity is present.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney ruled he did not have the authority to issue a preliminary injunction and block the law at this stage of the lawsuit.

He stressed that his decision did not touch on the merits of the case, which will continue.