The Supreme Court has voted to overturn the landmark 1973 case, according to a draft majority opinion obtained by Politico.
Also renounced in court documentation obtained by the outlet was the 1992 decision of Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which upheld the mandated national legalization of abortion.
In a leaked draft of the majority’s opinion in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Justice Samuel Alito indicates that the ruling would return the right to legislate the legality of abortion to the states.
“We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled,” writes Alito. “[I]t is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.”
This marks the first Supreme Court draft opinion in history to be leaked prior to the ruling’s announcement, Politico noted.
If the reported decision proves accurate, 13 states will immediately make abortions illegal.
In early 2019, the Alabama Legislature passed House Bill 314, authored by State Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur), which banned abortion except when the life of a mother is in danger.
At the time of the law’s passage, Republican lawmakers asserted that the bill would assist in the legal battle for the nation’s high court to eventually decide the fate of Roe v. Wade. Three years after the bill was signed into law, it appears as if the efforts of Alabama and other Republican-controlled states in passing pro-life legislation have succeeded.
In response to the report, Gov. Kay Ivey blasted the leak as an effort to “manipulate” long-standing Supreme Court procedures. The governor expressed her desire for justices to “remain steadfast in their convictions.”
“This unprecedented leak is concerning, outrageous and a blatant attempt to manipulate the sacred procedures of the U.S. Supreme Court,” declared Ivey. “Those responsible should be held accountable. My prayer is that Roe v. Wade is overturned and that life prevails. Tonight, let us say a prayer for life and that our Justices remain steadfast in their convictions. Here in Alabama, we will continue fighting for the unborn.”
House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) Monday night celebrated the reported Supreme Court decision and hailed the work of Alabama lawmakers in preemptively moving to take action against the practice of abortion.
“If the final U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Mississippi case challenging Roe v. Wade resembles the draft that was leaked to the press, Alabama will be well-positioned to quickly end abortion within our borders,” advised Ledbetter in a statement.
“In 2018, voters overwhelmingly ratified a constitutional amendment officially declaring Alabama a pro-life state, and soon after, our Republican Legislature passed the nation’s strongest law protecting unborn life from abortion,” he continued. “Alabama stands ready to take immediate action if the Supreme Court ultimately overturns Roe and allows states to once again determine abortion-related matters. Our Alabama state motto reads ‘We Dare Defend Our Rights,’ and that includes the rights of the unborn.”
Ledbetter also slammed the leaking of the high court’s majority draft opinion.
“The fact that liberal, pro-abortion factions took the unprecedented action of leaking the draft opinion demonstrates their desperation to preserve an unconscionable and immoral procedure that has already taken the lives of an estimated 62 million unborn children,” concluded the House GOP leader.
Editors Note: This report was updated at 6:35 a.m.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
