Georgia abortion law foes seek to keep it from taking effect

ATLANTA (AP) — Opponents of a Georgia law that bans most abortions are asking a judge to keep it from taking effect while a legal challenge plays out.

The law is set to become enforceable Jan. 1. Lawyers with the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights sued last month on behalf of Georgia advocacy groups and abortion providers to challenge the measure.

In a court filing Tuesday they asked the judge to stop the law from taking effect pending the outcome of the legal fight.

The so-called heartbeat law is among the nation’s most restrictive abortion bans . It would effectively prohibit the procedure at around six weeks of pregnancy, before many women know they’re pregnant, with only limited exceptions.