Right to abortion overturned by US Supreme Court after nearly 50 years

US News

The US Supreme Court has voted to overturn the constitutional right to choose abortion which has existed for almost 50 years, paving the way for half the country to severely restrict or completely ban the practice.

The power to decide on abortion rights for tens of millions of women will now be handed to the 50 states to determine individually.

It is one of the most consequential rulings by the Supreme Court, the highest court in America, in recent history.

Roe v Wade overturned – live reaction and analysis

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At least 25 states are poised to introduce new laws, or reactivate dormant law, which will make it illegal to access abortion in many cases, including, in some instances, where conception has resulted from rape or incest.

Many of those states are in the south of the country. Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi are three of 13 states which have so called “trigger bans” in place, which mean abortion will be banned immediately as of today or in the coming days and weeks.

Abortion rights activist protests outside of the U.S. Supreme Court, Wednesday, May 11, 2022 in Washington. A draft opinion suggests the U.S. Supreme Court could be poised to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion nationwide, according to a Politico report. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
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Abortion rights activist protests outside of the US Supreme Court back in May. Pic: AP

The opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito, overturns a landmark 1973 ruling known as “Roe versus Wade” which legalised abortion nationwide up to the point of foetal viability, generally accepted to be around 24 weeks into pregnancy.

More on Abortion

A subsequent 1992 decision – known as “Planned Parenthood versus Casey” – largely upheld that right, but this sounds the death knell for those protections of reproductive rights.

Pro-choice groups, who believe abortion should be viewed as standard healthcare and a human right, say the removal of the constitutional right to abortion will create so called “abortion deserts” forcing women to travel hundreds or thousands of miles to terminate unwanted pregnancies.

The new opinion originates from the state of Mississippi which was arguing to establish a law which would ban abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, significantly earlier than the point of foetal viability.

Demonstrators protest outside of the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday, May 3, 2022 in Washington. A draft opinion suggests the U.S. Supreme Court could be poised to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion nationwide, according to a Politico report released Monday. Whatever the outcome, the Politico report represents an extremely rare breach of the court's secretive deliberation process, and on a case of surpassing importance. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
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Demonstrators protested in May after the draft opinion was leaked. Pic: AP

In what was a stunning and unprecedented leak, a draft opinion was published on the US political website Politico in May, indicating that the court was poised to overturn Roe versus Wade.

It prompted widespread protest across the United States and reignited debate between pro-life and pro-choice groups.

Now that ruling has been confirmed it is likely to inflame political tensions once more.

Many court watchers believe the decision has occurred because the Supreme Court is newly right-leaning with six conservative judges, including three justices appointed by former president Donald Trump, outnumbering their three more liberal colleagues.

While abortion is one of the most divisive issues in America, polling has shown that the majority of Americans opposed Roe being overturned.

Earlier this month a poll by the analytics company Gallup found that 55% of Americans identify as “pro-choice.”

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