SC Supreme Court hears arguments on state’s latest abortion restriction

The highest court in South Carolina heard arguments on the state’s latest abortion restriction Tuesday morning.

The law, signed by Gov. Henry McMaster last month, outlaws the procedure after a heartbeat is detected, which usually occurs around six weeks into pregnancy.

One difference from the court’s ruling five months ago is that the lone female justice, who helped overturn the law, has retired. The court is now an all-male bench.

The state argues lawmakers made changes, including a new definition for what is a clinically diagnosable pregnancy and updated the definition of contraceptives.