With Roe v. Wade overturned, Georgia courts, lawmakers and prosecutors to shape what's next

abortion georgia
People gather for the March for Reproductive Justice on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021 in downtown Atlanta. (AP Photo/Ben Gray)

Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned the constitutional right to abortion, it’s up to states to decide whether or not to ban or restrict abortion.

Georgia already has a restrictive abortion law on the books, but it’s been on hold in the federal courts since Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed it into law in 2019.

Now, a federal court could soon allow the law to take effect, banning most abortions after about six weeks and possibly imposing criminal penalties on those who seek or provide abortions after that time with few exceptions. Abortion remains legal in Georgia until the court acts.