Federal Judge Rules North Carolina 20-week Abortion Ban Unconstitutional

This week, a federal judge struck down a North Carolina law banning abortion after 20 weeks gestation. The law had been in effect since 1973 but was amended in 2015 to tighten the exemptions to the 20-week ban. U.S. District Judge William Osteen ruled that the law, even if not enforced, had a "chilling effect" on individuals' constitutional rights. Judge Osteen stated that under current Supreme Court decisions, a state is never allowed to prohibit pre-viability abortions. The ruling will go into effect in 60 days, to allow time for the North Carolina legislature to either pass further legislation or challenge the decision on appeal.