The US Supreme Court could overturn the 1973 Roe vs. Wade ruling, according to an initial draft majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito, circulated inside the Supreme Court and obtained by POLITICO.
The infamous 1973 Roe vs. Wade ruling legalised abortion throughout the US. It is estimated that over 60 million babies have been aborted in the US since.
Now, a leaked document labelled “1st Draft”, has asserted that the majority of US Supreme Court Justices are in favour of overturning Roe vs. Wade. Justice Samuel Alito states in the document that the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision was "egregiously wrong" and that “Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences."
He said: “We hold that Roe… must be overruled. The Constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision.”
Following the document’s release, pro-lifers from across the US have gathered outside the Supreme Court in Washington D.C., declaring themselves to be the “post roe generation” and urging the Supreme Court Justices to defend the right to life.
The impact of this ruling
In 2021, the state of Mississippi asked the Supreme Court to overturn Roe vs. Wade in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organisation. Judges are expected to issue a ruling in late June or early July.
The immediate impact of this ruling would be to remove the guarantee of federal constitutional protection of abortion and permit each state to decide its own abortion regulations. This would allow US states to act in favour of life and ban abortion.
As of today, 12 U.S. states have already legislated for the immediate banning of abortion, should Roe vs. Wade be overturned by the Supreme Court.
Millions of lives could be saved
SPUC’s Executive Director (Public Affairs & Legal Services), Michael Robinson, said: “We do not yet know if the information regarding Roe vs. Wade is accurate. However, if true, this would prove to be a landmark moment in securing justice for unborn children and mothers.”
Mr Robinson continued: “As has previously been said, this is an important but complex case for pro-lifers. While SPUC and many pro-lifers agree that life begins at conception – and thus, that abortion is not acceptable at any stage during pregnancy – a decision to revoke Roe vs. Wade would nevertheless save millions of lives, allowing individual states the right to decide their own abortion laws.
“A pro-life decision in the Supreme Court would be a victory for the unborn, and SPUC encourages the Supreme Court Justices to recognise fundamental right to life of unborn children.
"SPUC follows this case with much interest, as well as with great hope for the future, a future that should belong to the unborn.”