Originally published on December 31, 2020 5:48 pm
For the first time in nearly a half century, there is a six-justice conservative supermajority on the U.S. Supreme Court six justices with clearly expressed views against abortion rights. So, will a woman s constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy soon be a thing of the past?
In 1973, when the court issued its landmark
Roe v. Wade opinion, the vote was 7-to-2, with five Republican-appointed justices in the majority. But since then, the court s composition has moved inexorably to the ideological right, with the court s three newest justices appointed by President Trump.
At the same time, however, public opinion polls have showed large majorities supporting abortion rights in most cases. Those approval ratings have remained remarkably stable over the years.
Roe v. Wade in doubt. J. Scott Applewhite/AP
toggle caption J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Anti-abortion rights activists demonstrate at the Supreme Court in Washington on Oct. 5. The court s new conservative supermajority puts the fate of
Roe v. Wade in doubt. J. Scott Applewhite/AP
For the first time in nearly a half century, there is a six-justice conservative supermajority on the U.S. Supreme Court six justices with clearly expressed views against abortion rights. So, will a woman s constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy soon be a thing of the past?
In 1973, when the court issued its landmark
Roe v. Wade opinion, the vote was 7-to-2, with five Republican-appointed justices in the majority. But since then, the court s composition has moved inexorably to the ideological right, with the court s three newest justices appointed by President Trump.
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Anti-abortion rights activists demonstrate at the Supreme Court in Washington on Oct. 5. The court s new conservative supermajority puts the fate of Roe v. Wade in doubt. // AP, J. Scott Applewhite
For the first time in nearly a half century, there is a six-justice conservative supermajority on the U.S. Supreme Court six justices with clearly expressed views against abortion rights. So, will a woman s constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy soon be a thing of the past?
In 1973, when the court issued its landmark
Roe v. Wade opinion, the vote was 7-to-2, with five Republican-appointed justices in the majority. But since then, the court s composition has moved inexorably to the ideological right, with the court s three newest justices appointed by President Trump.
Religion, Abortion, Guns And Race. Just The Start Of A New Supreme Court Menu
at 2:07 am NPR
In January, the U.S. Supreme Court embarks on the second half of a term with a fortified 6-to-3 conservative majority. But unlike the first half of the term, there will be no norm-busting President Trump often railing at the court s election decisions. In tone, President Biden probably will be the functional opposite, but his policies are likely to be greeted with more skepticism.
For decades, the court s five-justice conservative majority was split between those who wanted to move slowly in a more conservative direction and others who wanted to move more aggressively. But now, with the more centrist conservatives retired and three Trump appointees on the court, there is a conservative supermajority of six, meaning one vote to spare.
In January, the U.S. Supreme Court embarks on the second half of a term with a fortified 6-to-3 conservative majority. But unlike the first half of the term, there will be no norm-busting President Trump often railing at the court s election decisions. In tone, President Biden probably will be the functional opposite, but his policies are likely to be greeted with more skepticism.
For decades, the court s five-justice conservative majority was split between those who wanted to move slowly in a more conservative direction and others who wanted to move more aggressively. But now, with the more centrist conservatives retired and three Trump appointees on the court, there is a conservative supermajority of six, meaning one vote to spare.