A Defining Moment for the Roberts Court
Nearly 50 years after Roe v. Wade, the future of women’s rights — and the Supreme Court’s reputation — hangs in the balance.
What’s at stake?
Photographer: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images
It’s no exaggeration to say American women are staring down the barrel of the biggest attack on their rights in generations. As the U.S. Supreme Court considers the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the future of women’s rights has not been this imperiled since before the court’s 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade.
Saturday marks the 49th anniversary of that decision, which established a constitutional right to abortion up to about 24 weeks of pregnancy — and beyond, if the health of the mother is in danger. The Mississippi Legislature is trying to overturn Roe, by reducing the period to 15 weeks, with no exceptions for a mother’s life or health. Other states are seeking to restrict the period even more — or eliminate it entirely.