Friday’s Supreme Court decision in Dobbs-v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case was widely anticipated. This case overturned the Rose v. Wade & Casey pro-abortion precedent.
Justice Samuel Alito wrote that “The Constitution doesn’t confer a right or privilege to abortion; Roe & Casey are overruled and the authority to regulate the abortion is returned to people and their elected representatives.” It is time to pay attention to the Constitution and bring the issue of abortion back to the elected representatives of the people.
Justices Roberts and Thomas joined him in the majority opinion.
“With sorrow–for the Court, but also for the many millions of American women who today have lost a fundamental constitutional protection—-we dissent.” [sic] From Roe… to Sorrow. In a joint dissent, Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Breyer wrote that it truly was sad.
Each state will be able to decide how to regulate abortion. Expect dark blue states to have the most extreme pro-abortion policies, while states in the dark red may ban abortion altogether. Some states may allow abortion in certain situations only.
Dobbs vs. Mississippi concerns a law that makes abortion illegal within the first 15 weeks. SCOTUS heard arguments on November 20, 2021. Although the Court was expected to issue its decision in June, it was leaked by someone in a shocking act of subversion. The leaked draft was published by Politico on May 2, causing a stir among abortion supporters.
Only 34% of Americans support abortion during the second trimester. Only 19% believe it is okay. Some states, including Oregon, New York, and New Jersey, permit abortion until birth. Over half of U.S. States allow it well after the baby is viable. Roe v. Wade required the whole country to allow abortion of pre-viable infants and allowed individual states to approve the procedure throughout pregnancy.
