Dear John,

I’m Gretchen, a lawyer here at the National Women’s Law Center and one of the signatories on our amicus brief in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization—the Supreme Court case that will decide the future of our right to abortion in this country.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case earlier this month, and I wanted to update you on where we go from here, and why this fight—and your support—is so critical.

As we approach the end of the year, the Law Center has set an ambitious $150,000 fundraising goal—you can help the Law Center fight for gender justice and abortion access with a donation right now, and a generous group of donors will MATCH your gift dollar-for-dollar until we meet our goal>>

Here’s the background: in 2018, Mississippi passed a law banning abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy. The abortion ban is in clear conflict with Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the two landmark Supreme Court decisions that have guaranteed the right to abortion for five decades. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (JWHO), the only abortion clinic left in Mississippi, challenged the law on behalf of their patients.

The state’s legal team is asking the conservative majority on the court to throw out the precedent set by Roe and Casey and eliminate our constitutional right to abortion.

The Law Center’s brief to the Supreme Court in support of JWHO explains:

The right to abortion is part of the constitution’s guarantee of liberty and equality, because abortion is essential to securing the autonomy, health, and economic opportunity of people who can become pregnant.

I’ll be honest, we and other supporters of abortion access are deeply troubled about where the Supreme Court is headed with this case. We likely won’t have a ruling until June next year, and I’ll be sure to keep you updated with developments and where we go from here. What we know with absolute certainty right now is that we—everyone who believes in the right to abortion and supports abortion access for all—must show up and fight for a future where we all have the freedom to control our own bodies, safely care for our families, and live with dignity.

I want to thank you, John, and everyone in this incredible community for the support our team has received. While we wait for the court to rule, it’s been so heartening to see constant reminders that you’re with us on the right side of history.

I hope you’ll consider making a donation to help keep up the fight, no matter what happens next.

Sincerely,

Gretchen Borchelt
she/they
Vice President for Reproductive Rights and Health
National Women’s Law Center

We know December is a busy month for you. If you want to take a break from our emails for the rest of the month, opt out of our emails until January!