US ready to overturn historic abortion law
But Biden speaks out against change
CHRISTOPHER BUCKTIN
THE ruling which legalised abortion nationwide in America almost 50 years ago is set to be overturned by the US Supreme Court, a leaked document suggests.
BY
It has prompted an angry backlash, with protests across the country.
President Joe Biden weighed in by saying he opposes the law being changed, adding: “A woman’s right to choose is fundamental.”
The leaked document shows a draft opinion indicating the Supreme Court will strike down the Roe v Wade ruling of 1973.
It would shift responsibilty to individual states, meaning elected representatives in each state would decide if abortion should be legal there, including in cases of rape and incest.
Of the 50 states, 26 are likely to ban abortion if Roe v Wade and the 1992 Planned Parenthood v Casey are overturned. Eighteen states already have restrictive abortion laws.
BREACH
The draft opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito, said: “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled. It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.”
It is unprecedented for a pending US Supreme Court decision to be leaked. The document shows a majority of the nation’s nine highest judges support revoking Roe v Wade.
Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed the draft is “authentic” but stressed a final decision has not been made. He ordered a probe into the leak which he called an “egregious breach of trust”.
Republicans claim the leak is an attempt to influence the court ahead of its formal ruling which is not expected to be finalised for weeks.
All five of the judges who voted against Roe v Wade were appointed by Republican presidents.
Democrats have vowed to codify the legal right to abortion into law. Anti-abortion supporters have also taken to the streets.