Supreme Court Overturns Roe v. Wade Ruling Protecting Abortion Rights

Iesha June 24, 2022 News Leave a comment

Early Friday morning, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, destroying the precedent that had secured abortion rights, severely allowing states to restrict access to reproductive healthcare. At the same time, the court overturned Casey v. Planned Parenthood, a later decision that largely upheld Roe.

The courts stated, “The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey are overruled, and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives.”

It wasn’t a surprise that Justice Samuel Alito’s ruling in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case was leaked to Politico in early May.

The decision was supported by conservative justices Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch, and Amy Coney Barrett, while Chief Justice John Roberts favored a narrower approach.

Now that their decision has been made nationwide, states can enact strict abortion restrictions that would force some women to carry on risky and unwanted pregnancies. In some states, rape and incest victims must deal with the traumatic experiences of pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood or adoption. Babies will be born with illnesses from which they will eventually pass away. Children will be forced onto those who aren’t ready or don’t want to have them.

However, abortion rights are not eliminated by the ruling.

Some states have sworn to maintain access to abortion, and as a result, they will likely turn into a haven for individuals who can afford to fly there and receive treatments. The 22 states with abortion restrictions are unsure how quickly their limitations will go into force.

In most states, abortion is prohibited only after a certain point in pregnancy, but exceptions exist.

For example, the GOP-controlled legislature in Oklahoma just passed a bill that would outlaw all abortions, except in situations where the pregnant woman’s life is in danger or rape has been reported to the police.

Republicans are promoting abortion restrictions in states that do not make an exception for rape or incest victims.

Some efforts have been made to codify abortion rights, but a bill blocking the codification of Roe v. Wade in May failed. The GOP has electoral advantages in many states because of districts and laws.

Many organizations are also arranging to support those who want to get abortions by paying for their travel and medical care in places where the procedure is still allowed.

Medication abortion is another choice, allowing some women who choose to end their pregnancies to do so at home. State-level abortion prohibitions have also targeted medication abortion, although supporters say that more people will likely obtain the drug and perform their abortions if restrictions are implemented.