Supreme Court to Hear First Abortion-Related Case Since Change in Balance of the Court
For Immediate Release: May 18, 2021 (Updated: May 17, 2021, 7:18 p.m.)
St. Paul, MN— Today, the Supreme Court announced it will review Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban, a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade and nearly 50 years of precedent since that landmark decision. This is the first direct challenge to Roe v. Wade the court will hear since Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation. The case, brought by the Center for Reproductive Rights on behalf of Jackson Women’s Health Organization — the last abortion provider in Mississippi — challenges a blatantly unconstitutional ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The Mississippi law is currently blocked, with both a federal district court and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals recognizing it is unconstitutional. The Court is expected to rule on this case in 2022.
Below is a statement from Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States:
“No one is free unless they control their own body. Abortion is a safe medical procedure that is essential health care. As the Supreme Court takes up a case on abortion rights and access, we must remember we all deserve the opportunity to control our lives at the most basic level: our bodies, our families, and our life’s path, including whether and when to become a parent.
Americans overwhelmingly support a woman’s right to access safe and legal abortion and do not want to see this right taken away.
While we wait for the Court to hear the case, our doors are open. Abortion remains safe and legal today, and our health centers are open and providing abortion care across our region.”
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Planned Parenthood North Central States and its subsidiary organizations provide, promote, and protect reproductive and sexual health through high quality care, education and advocacy. A member of America’s most trusted reproductive health care provider, our affiliate is proud to support and operate 30 health centers across our five-state region (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota). Each year, we provide health care to nearly 115,000 people and health education to more than 55,000 people in our region.