Pro-abortion campaigners in vigils outside judges’ homes
PRO-CHOICE abortion campaigners staged vigils outside the homes of Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and John Roberts over the weekend to protest at the leaked ruling which would overturn the ruling in the case of Roe vs Wade which has been a legal landmark.
Last week’s leaked draft decision on the 1973 Supreme Court ruling legalising abortion was described as a constitutional earthquake. It would allow states to decide their own legal position.
The vigils outside the judge’s homes are expected to intensify with more protests already planned, including outside the home of Justice Samuel Alito, the author of the draft ruling.
Some residents in Chevy Chase, a leafy suburb which straddles Washington DC and southern Maryland criticised taking the protest to the street outside Mr Kavanaugh’s front door.
As many as 23 states are expected to outlaw abortion if the draft ruling is confirmed in the summer.
While pro-life groups have hailed the move, opponents fear the decision could just be the start of more sweeping restrictions which could see curbs on contraception and gay marriage.
Mitch Mcconnell, the Republican Senate leader, appeared to justify their anxiety when he said a national ban on abortion was possible if Roe vs Wade was overturned in the summer.
The battle over abortion is expected to be a key issue in November’s midterm elections.
A CBS poll released over the weekend showed that the ruling flies in the face of public opinion with 64 per cent of respondents supporting the Roe vs Wade decision.