Highbrow Magazine - overturning roe v. wade https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/overturning-roe-v-wade en What Changes Will Take Effect If the Supreme Court Overturns ‘Roe v. Wade’? https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/20019-what-changes-will-take-effect-if-supreme-court-overturns-roe-v-wade <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-features" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News &amp; Features</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Tue, 06/14/2022 - 10:39</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2largeabortion_laurie_shaull-wikimedia.jpg?itok=huMH-NpD"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2largeabortion_laurie_shaull-wikimedia.jpg?itok=huMH-NpD" width="480" height="320" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Individual states and some cities are taking legal steps to either limit or allow abortions, gearing up for what will likely be a fierce national battle if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the constitutional right to abortion.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The Supreme Court is set to soon release a final verdict on <em>Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization</em>, one month after a leaked Supreme Court <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/02/supreme-court-abortion-draft-opinion-00029473" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">draft majority opinion</a> showed it could reverse <em>Roe v. Wade</em>.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">But a ruling – likely to come sometime in June or July 2022 – will be only one important step in the ongoing national abortion saga. While 13 states, including Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, have <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/04/us/abortion-trigger-laws.html" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">“trigger laws”</a> that would almost immediately restrict abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned, the legal future for abortion in 10 states is uncertain.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">As a professor of health law, public health law and medical ethics, I think it is important to understand that it may take time to see the full effects of a Supreme Court decision at the state level.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Many states have laws regulating abortion already in place, while other states are moving to expand or restrict abortions. Oklahoma, for example, approved a new law on May 26, 2022, that bans most abortions after a fetus’ heartbeat can be detected – usually around six weeks after conception. The only exceptions are cases of reported rape or incest, or a need to save the pregnant woman’s life.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">In Austin, Texas, lawmakers are working to pass a law that would decriminalize abortion within city limits. Towns in Nebraska and elsewhere have also approved local regulations that ban abortion. While state laws can override these rules, local ordinances can still limit where abortion clinics can operate.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">It’s key to keep in mind, though, the legal process at the state level can involve not only the legislature, but courts and state governors, which creates a complex and sometimes unpredictable outcome that could take months or years to resolve.</span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/2abortion_fibonacci_blue-flickr.jpg" style="height:400px; width:600px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>What’s at stake</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The Supreme Court is currently reviewing <em>Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization</em>, a case that considers a Mississippi law called the Mississippi Gestational Age Act. This 2018 law prohibits most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with medical emergencies or fetal anomaly as exceptions.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The Supreme Court ruled on <em>Roe v. Wade</em> in 1973, establishing that women have a right to get an abortion before a fetus could survive outside of its mother’s womb – typically around 24 weeks of pregnancy. After this time, states could choose to restrict abortion – as long as there were exceptions to preserve the life or health of a pregnant woman.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>State-by-state decisions</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Now, if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the Mississippi law and overturns Roe v. Wade, states would regain power to regulate abortion.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">This would result in a new patchwork of state laws across the U.S. that would take time to be approved and implemented.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">State legislatures may review old state abortion laws that predate Roe v. Wade, for example. State Supreme Courts could also review existing or new laws on abortion.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">There’s already been a growing gap on this issue across states. In 2018, many states began passing new laws to either make it harder or easier to get an abortion.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>States may restrict abortion access</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Many states are now working to not entirely ban abortion, but rather to change the point at which someone can get an abortion during pregnancy.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Currently, only three states – Alabama, Arkansas and South Dakota – plan to entirely ban abortions, with the exception of a medical emergency.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The picture is more nuanced in different states. Some states have trigger laws that would make it illegal for someone to perform an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Texas already enacted a law in 2021 that makes it illegal for someone to perform an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Legislators in other states, like Arizona and Florida, also recently approved laws that restrict abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Some federal courts have challenged these kinds of restrictions. In over a dozen states, including Kentucky, a federal court blocked state laws in April 2022 that restricted when someone can get an abortion. But overturning Roe v. Wade could allow these laws to take effect, or could produce more legal battles to block the law or revise it.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Every state would still permit exceptions, such as for medically necessary abortions or health emergencies. Each state’s exception would differ slightly.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/3newyork_geralt-pixabay.jpg" style="height:293px; width:600px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>States may expand abortion access</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">An estimated 21 states, though, would continue to have few limitations on getting abortion if <em>Roe v. Wade</em> is overturned.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">                              </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">There is also growing momentum for some states to make it easier to get an abortion, by allocating taxpayer funding for abortion services, for example, or mandating insurance coverage with no additional cost.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">In recent years some states, such as Maine, Illinois and Virginia, have changed their laws to allow medical professionals who are not doctors, like nurses, to perform surgical abortions.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Eight states, including California, New York and Washington, have laws that guarantee the right to get an abortion.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Seven states, including Colorado, Oregon and Vermont, have no limits on when a pregnant woman can get an abortion.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Some states, meanwhile, have state abortion laws predating Roe v. Wade that they may to revisit. Michigan, for example, has a 1931 law that makes providing an abortion a felony, unless it is done to protect the life of the pregnant person.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">A Michigan court blocked enforcing this law on May 17, 2022, even if the court overturns Roe v. Wade. This means the Michigan Legislature may revise the state law, which could take months.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">If the Supreme Court indeed throws the question of abortion back to states, the outcome of Dobbs v. Jackson could be the starting point for states to navigate a wide range of new abortion laws.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Author Bio:</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong><em>Katherine Drabiak is an associate professor of health law, public health law, and medical ethics at the University of South Florida.</em></strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong><em>This article was originally published by </em></strong><a href="https://theconversation.com/change-wont-appear-overnight-in-many-states-if-the-supreme-court-overturns-roe-v-wade-183203" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline"><strong><em>the Conversation</em></strong></a><strong><em>. It’s published here with permission under a Creative Commons license.</em></strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Highbrow Magazine</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Image Sources:</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><em>--Fibonacci Blue (</em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/fibonacciblue/47113819624" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline"><em>Flickr</em></a><em>, Creative Commons)</em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><em>--Adam Fagen (</em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/afagen/28520410080" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline"><em>Flickr</em></a><em>, Creative Commons)</em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><em>--Geralt </em><a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/new-york-skyline-new-york-city-city-3468260/" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline"><em>(Pixabay</em></a><em>, Creative Commons)</em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><em>--Lorie Shaull (<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Keep_Abortion_Safe_And_Legal_sign_at_a_Stop_Abortion_Bans_Rally_in_St_Paul,_Minnesota_%2847902778991%29.jpg">Wikimedia</a>, Creative Commons)</em></span></span></p> <p> </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/roe-v-wade" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">roe v. wade</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/overturning-roe-v-wade" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">overturning roe v. wade</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/supreme-court-5" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">the supreme court</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/abortion" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">abortion</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/abortion-access" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">abortion access</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/which-states-allow-abortions" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">which states allow abortions</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/abortion-laws" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">abortion laws</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Katherine Drabiak</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">In Slider</div></div></div> Tue, 14 Jun 2022 14:39:38 +0000 tara 11146 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/20019-what-changes-will-take-effect-if-supreme-court-overturns-roe-v-wade#comments