Draft SCOTUS Decision Puts Reproductive Rights in Great Jeopardy

This statement can be attributed to Cormekki Whitley, interim executive director of the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP).

Washington, D.C., May 3, 2022 - Last night’s news report of a leaked draft Supreme Court majority opinion indicated that the high court is prepared to overturn Roe v. Wade and end the constitutional right to abortion. While abortion remains legal across the country at this very moment, a decision to overturn Roe v. Wade would be a grave attack on abortion rights and people seeking this care. It would be incredibly harmful for all women and birthing people, especially those in low-income communities and communities of color. Such a ruling would be devastating for people with low incomes who already struggle to access abortion care and would be driven deeper into economic insecurity. 

The right to abortion is fundamental to the economic security, bodily autonomy, and health care access for people who want to end a pregnancy. There is no doubt that a decision in this direction would deeply worsen gender and racial inequities. 

We also cannot overstate what the draft opinion signals for other fundamental and constitutionally protected civil and human rights and our democracy at large. The right to an abortion has been settled case law for the past 50 years. The erosion of this and other constitutional protections would cause dire and disproportionate harm to low income communities, communities of color and other marginalized groups. 

CLASP is committed to working with our partners to stand up for reproductive rights and the constitutional rights of all individuals. We call on lawmakers at all levels – in state legislatures and in Congress -to heed the warning and codify abortion access immediately.