CHICAGO (CBS / AP) – Following the publication of a published report showing that the draft opinion shows that a majority of U.S. Supreme Court justices supported the dismissal of Rowe v. Wade in 1973, Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker hurried to write on Twitter: “Damn! ”
The report was published Monday in Politico referred to a draft opinion circulated to Supreme Court judges on abortion legalization across the country. This was a stunning breach of court privacy.
The Associated Press and other sources could not immediately confirm the authenticity of the published Politico project, which in case of verification means the shocking opening of a secret trial process in the Supreme Court, especially before the official decision of the case.
The publication published what was referred to as the “1st Draft” “Court Conclusion” in a case challenging Mississippi’s ban on abortion after 15 weeks, a case known as Dobbs v. Jackson’s Women’s Health Organization.
Pritzker tweeted Monday night, “Damn, no! In Illinois, we trust women. We cannot allow their deepest and most personal rights to be violated. ”
Mayor Laurie Lightfoot also tweeted: “Tonight we see“ Rowe vs. Wade ”- this is a horrific attack on our fundamental right to choose, and we will fight against it with everything we have. You have the word: “I will do my best to guarantee your right to abortion.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Representative Bill Foster (Illinois) posted a tweet urging the Senate to pass the Women’s Health Act, which has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the Mississippi case, and it is known that opinions – and even the votes of judges – have changed in the drafting process. The court is expected to rule on the case before its expiration in late June or early July.
The bill is signed by Judge Samuel Alita, a member of the Conservative majority of the 6-3 court, who was appointed by former President George W. Bush.
“Ru was grossly mistaken from the very beginning,” the draft conclusion reads.
“We believe that Roe and Casey should be repealed,” it added, referring to the Planned Paternity v. Casey case in 1992, which reaffirmed Roe’s conclusion about the constitutional right to abortion but allowed states to impose some restrictions on practice. “It’s time to listen to the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s deputies.”
The draft opinion essentially states that the constitutional right to abortion does not exist, and this will allow individual states to more strictly regulate or directly prohibit this procedure.
The bill says the vote took place along party lines, and Conservative judges Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsach, Brett Cavanaugh and Amy Connie Barrett agreed with Alita. According to Politico, three Democrat-appointed courts are working on at least one dissent.
It is unclear what Chief Justice John Roberts will do.
Politico only stated that it had received “a copy of the draft report from a person familiar with the Mississippi court, along with other details confirming the authenticity of the document.”
If Rowe v. Wade is repealed, the right to abortion in Illinois will not be affected. In 2017, then-Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation which removes in Illinois law a formula declaring a desire to criminalize abortion if Rowe v. Wade, a 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing the procedure will be overturned.
Illinois Democrats adopted the provision after then-President Donald Trump expressed his dislike of abortion.
The 2017 law also provided for state health insurance and Medicaid coverage for abortions.
Late Monday, protesters have already begun gathering near the Supreme Court in Washington, DC. The barricades were on the steps of the Supreme Court.
