Supreme Court rejects Arkansas bid to revive abortion law

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is refusing to revive an Arkansas law that would have banned abortions after the 12th week of pregnancy if doctors can detect a fetal heartbeat.

The justices did not comment Tuesday in rejecting the state’s appeal of lower court rulings that struck down the law. Federal judges called the law inconsistent with Supreme Court rulings that generally tie restrictions to the fetus’ viability, not the presence of a heartbeat.

The high court already has an abortion case on its agenda, examining restrictions on Texas abortion clinics that the state says are meant to safeguard women’s health. Abortion-rights supporters argue that the restrictions’ only aim is to make abortions harder to obtain.

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