On Wednesday morning, abortion advocates and abortion opponents gathered outside the Supreme Court in Washington for what they describe as the right to choose and the right to life of the fetus.
The issue of abortion was decided by the Supreme Court in 1973 with the judgment in Roe v. Wade. The ruling gave women in the United States the right to have an abortion up to the point when the fetus was considered viable – which today is commonly interpreted as around 24 pregnancy week.
but the decision was There is no end to the debate. opposite of this. Legislation varies widely between conservative and liberal states in the United States today. In recent years, politicians at the regional level have tried to ban various types of abortion – including the so-called Heartbeat Act in Texas, which in practice serves as a complete ban on abortion.
At the same time, the balance has shifted in the Supreme Court. Following the appointment of former President Donald Trump, there is a clear majority in favor of restricting abortion rights, with six Conservative judges and three Liberal judges.
Protesters outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday
Photo: Thassos Katopodis/UPI/Shutterstock
On Wednesday morning, he held a public hearing on a new Mississippi state law that bans abortions after pregnancy week 15. Among other things, a representative of a clinic in the state was heard.
Chief Justice John Roberts wanted to know why 15 weeks is not enough for an abortion.
This is not a dramatic change from feasibility, he claimed.
Conservative fellow judge Brett Kavanaugh argued that it was impossible to satisfy the rights of both women and fetuses.
– You have to choose. He said that this is the fundamental problem.
three liberal judges Wade’s reconsideration would be construed as politicizing the law and undermining confidence in the work of the Supreme Court.
– If people really believe that everything is politics, how will we survive? How did the court survive, Judge Sonia Sotomayor asked rhetorically.
The fight over abortion in the United States has been fierce for several decades. This could have an impact on the mid-elections next year.
Photo: Chip Somodevilla/AFP
But the mere fact that the Supreme Court has chosen to try the law in Mississippi is interpreted as a sign that the conservative majority is ready to shake the row against Wade.
Normally, the Supreme Court only deals with cases where lower precedents disagree, but lower courts have jointly ruled that the Mississippi Act is unconstitutional. Also, Chief Justice John Roberts is generally cautious about reconsidering H.D.’s previous statements.
His comments during the hearing could be interpreted as trying to find a settlement where the time limit has been reduced to 15 weeks, but some form of abortion right remains.
“Roberts indicated he may be open to a middle ground,” legal expert Lisa Soronan told the Washington Post.
after today’s hearing Nine judges will jointly review the case. Then begins the difficult task of taking the decision itself.
The decision is expected to be made public in the summer of 2022, months before a crucial midterm election for Congress. New restrictions on abortion rights could stifle the election debate and mobilize abortion advocates on the left.
Opinion polls show that the majority of Americans are behind abortion rights, but support for late-term abortions remains low.
Read more:
They cry. The Women Behind Wade Were – Never Had an Abortion in This Case