The Roe v. Wade decision was overruled by the Supreme Court on Friday.
This essentially eliminates the acknowledgment of abortion as a constitutionally protected right. The overturn also grants individual states the authority to permit, restrict, or outright forbid the procedure.
The Details
The court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which focused on Mississippi legislation that outlawed abortion beyond 15 weeks of pregnancy, led to the decision.
Mississippi, which is governed by Republicans, petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn a lower court decision that blocked the 15-week abortion restriction.
The judgment was released after a draft opinion overturning Roe leaked in February sparked national discussion and inspired pro-choice activist demonstrations at the residences of the six conservative justices.
Furthermore, since the judgment leak, scores of pro-life pregnancy clinics have been damaged. Catholic churches have been the subject of protests and turmoil and a man has been charged with homicide for allegedly attempting to kill Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Abortion is the Jim Crow of our times—a denial of basic human rights and a moral stain on the nation. As with segregation that lasted many decades, #Scotus finally said enough. “Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty we are free at last” #Abortion #RoeVsWade
— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) June 24, 2022
In December 2021, the high court heard legal arguments in the matter. Scott Stewart, the solicitor general for Mississippi, argued in favor of the bill.
He also called for the overturning of the precedent-setting abortion ruling, Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which prevented state governments from outlawing abortions at specific stages of pregnancy.
The overthrow of Roe is seen by pro-lifers as the proper return of the debate over abortion limits to the states, which they think is the ideal forum for such discussion.
In the case that Roe is overturned, at least 13 states with a Republican governor already established “trigger legislation” that would instantly impose restrictions on access to abortion.
The Guttmacher Foundation, a pro-abortion research organization, noted laws prohibiting abortions beyond six weeks in Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, and South Carolina have all been deemed unlawful, but would be reconsidered if Roe is reversed.
On the other side, pro-choice supporters will need to try to codify Roe or achieve state-level legislation to implement lighter abortion regulations.
Blue States’ Reactions
Other blue states are anticipated to fall into line after the Supreme Court’s decision. New York approved a law in 2018 intended to codify Roe.
The Court didn’t ELIMINATE a constitutional right to abortion. It affirmed that there NEVER WAS such a right. Just as Lincoln affirmed the rebel states never legally severed their relationship with the union #Scotus #abortion #RoeVsWade
— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) June 24, 2022
According to polls, the majority of Americans support some limits on abortion, even if more than six in ten voters believe the court should maintain Roe.
When asked how they would react if their state-approved legislation outlawed abortions beyond 15 weeks, Americans responded favorably (54 percent) and negatively (41 percent) in a new Fox News survey.
In the week that followed the leaked draft, Congress failed to move a bill that would have codified Roe v. Wade’s federal safeguards for abortion forward.
The Women’s Health Protection Act voting was overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a Democrat, joined all 50 Republicans in voting against the measure, which required 60 votes to pass.
