ATLANTA (AP/WAOK) – A judge is considering whether to block Georgia’s new law that bans abortions after 20 weeks pending the outcome of a legal challenge.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia filed a lawsuit on behalf of three obstetricians challenging the law’s constitutionality. A judge on Thursday heard arguments from both sides on an ACLU motion to block it from taking effect Jan. 1.

The suit says the law forces doctors to make an “untenable choice” since they would face criminal prosecution for providing treatment their patients seek. An ACLU lawyer argued the law would cause irreparable harm to the doctors’ patients.

A lawyer for the state argued that blocking the law from taking effect would harm the state by going against the will of the Legislature.