ACSBlog: The Blog of the American Constitution Society

The Supreme Court today upheld a ban on certain abortion procedures, just seven years after it struck down a similar law in Stenberg v. Carhart.  A recent statement by the Center for Reproductive Rights expresses concern about what this may portend for the future:

“It took just a year for this new Court to overturn three decades of established law. Today’s ruling is a stunning assault on women’s health and the expertise of doctors who care for them,” said Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights. “The Court has dramatically reduced the ability of doctors to provide services that, in their opinion, are the safest / best options to protect women’s health. This Court believes that Members of Congress – not doctors – are in the best position to make medical decisions for their patients. In direct contradiction to earlier rulings and established law, today the Court announced that there are some aspects of women’s health it is willing to sacrifice. This is a terrifying development, one with implications far beyond the abortion debate. Every American who cares about women’s health, and doctors’ ability to treat their patients appropriately, should be alarmed by this ruling.”

Said Northup, “Make no mistake – today’s ruling takes us perilously close to a complete reversal of Roe v. Wade. And we should assume that this is only the beginning. The Justices have shown their cards. Despite assurances that they would uphold precedents, the Court has now kicked open the door for states to impose broader restrictions on Roe, restrictions that will sacrifice women’s health for the sake of ideological gains. In his confirmation hearings before the Senate, Chief Justice Roberts said he believed it is a ‘jolt’ to the legal system when Supreme Court precedents are overturned. Apparently, under some circumstances, he is willing to jolt the legal system, at the expense of women’s health.”