After a leaked Supreme Court draught revealed the court might soon overturn its 1973 decision allowing abortion, US President Joe Biden encouraged people to protect abortion rights by voting for politicians who support them in November’s elections.
Joe Biden stated that his administration would respond after the Supreme Court’s decision. Still, he stopped short of advocating for more radical reforms, such as changing Senate rules to allow a simple majority to enact legislation ensuring abortion access.
The Senate is split 50-50 between Biden’s Democrats and Republicans, with Vice President Kamala Harris empowered to break any ties.
A draught Supreme Court opinion released late Monday indicated that most justices were poised to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which safeguards abortion rights. The legitimacy of the leaked document was certified by the court on Tuesday.
The decision adds to Biden’s already-heavy workload, which includes dealing with the US reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and measures to combat soaring inflation at home.
Biden has repeatedly dismissed requests for the Supreme Court to be expanded to include more left-leaning judges.
Former President Donald Trump was able to seat three jurists during his four-year administration, giving the court a 6-3 conservative majority. Trump had pledged to nominate justices who would repeal abortion rights.
Biden urged voters on Tuesday to elect more candidates to Congress who support women’s freedom to choose whether or not to have abortions.
“If the Supreme Court overturns Roe, it will be up to our country’s elected authorities to defend a woman’s right to choose. And it will be up to voters to elect pro-choice representatives. “In a carefully crafted written statement produced with top advisers.
“To enact legislation that codifies Roe, we’ll need more pro-choice Senators and a pro-choice majority in the House, which I’ll strive to pass and sign into law.”
The House of Representatives, where Democrats hold a small majority, and the Senate are both up for grabs in November, with Republicans anticipated to win majorities in one or both houses.
Women’s Rights
According to Harris, opponents of Roe attempt to take away women’s rights to make decisions, according to Harris, the first woman to serve as vice president.
“All Americans’ rights are in jeopardy,” she stated. “If the right to privacy is undermined, everyone might face a future in which the government may be able to intervene in your personal life decisions. It is now more important than ever to fight for women and our country with everything we have.”
Biden said the decision might have far-reaching implications beyond a woman’s choice to terminate her pregnancy, citing same-sex marriage and other liberties.
“It would imply that every other choice connected to the idea of privacy would be called into question,” Biden said before a trip to Alabama to media at Joint Base Andrews outside of Washington. “If it holds, it would be a significant change in American jurisprudence.”
The Roe v. Wade ruling acknowledged that a woman’s right to privacy under the United States Constitution protects her ability to terminate her pregnancy.
For decades, abortion has been a source of contention between Democrats and Republicans in the United States. Abortion rights are generally supported by Democrats, whereas Republicans oppose them.
Biden said he had asked White House staff to prepare alternatives for an administration reaction as new stringent Republican-backed abortion laws have been implemented in various states and the Supreme Court verdict looms.
The Supreme Court’s decision in the Mississippi abortion case, expected by the end of June, may motivate Americans on both sides of the issue to vote in the next midterm elections.
In a draught judgement dated Feb. 10, conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote, “Roe was egregiously incorrect.”
According to Alito’s judgement, the Roe v. Wade decision, which authorised abortions between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy when the foetus was viable outside the womb, was incorrectly determined since the United States Constitution provides no particular reference for abortion rights.
Published by- NIKITA GOSWAMI
