**Judge's Ruling Halts Georgia's Six-Week Abortion Ban Amidst National Controversy**

Women in Georgia can now obtain abortions after six weeks of pregnancy once more after a recent judicial ruling. This comes after Fulton County Superior Judge Robert C. I. McBurney overturned the state's restrictive abortion ban, which has fueled a surge in demand for abortion services. In response, providers like Planned Parenthood have quickly resumed offering care, facing an influx of calls not only from within Georgia but also from surrounding states where abortions remain mostly banned.

The decision has ignited heated reactions. Governor Brian Kemp has openly criticized the ruling and Georgia's attorney general has promptly appealed it. However, women's health organizations and advocates see this as a necessary step in addressing the dire consequences of the state's prior restrictions. The recent surge in demand comes after the tragic stories of Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, two women in Georgia who died after being unable to access prompt legal abortion services.

Planned Parenthood has been proactive, reconnecting with patients they previously had to turn away. "We've been able to get them rescheduled," said Jaylen Black, vice president of marketing and communications for the organization's Southeast region. Similarly, the Feminist Women's Health Center is working diligently to accommodate as many patients as possible, recognizing the urgency of the situation.

These tragic stories have reverberated across various platforms and levels of government. Vice President Kamala Harris, during a visit to Atlanta, highlighted the personal toll of restrictive abortion laws, urging the crowd to remember the names of those who have died because of such policies. Senate efforts have been mobilized, with 41 senators introducing a resolution calling on hospitals to provide emergency abortion care when necessary. Furthermore, Sen. Ron Wyden has sought information from the hospital that treated Thurman to assess compliance with federal requirements for emergency medical care.

Judge McBurney's recent order striking down the state's abortion ban reinstates the previous standard, allowing abortions up to approximately 22 weeks of pregnancy. His ruling emphasizes that the decision about a woman's body and health remains hers alone until the fetus reaches viability. This marks the second time McBurney has blocked the state's abortion ban, and his earlier ruling deemed the law unconstitutional before it was reinstated by the state Supreme Court.

The current legal landscape remains fluid as the state's Supreme Court could once again stay McBurney's ruling. For now, however, providers in Georgia continue to operate under the temporary relief granted by the judge's decision.