Last Updated on January 5, 2020
Over 200 members of Congress, both Republicans and Democrats signed a request Thursday, urging the Supreme Court to reconsider the 1973 Roe v. Wade abortion rights ruling ahead of an anticipated key decision on abortion in Louisiana.
The request, an amicus brief, highlights the fear of many Democrats that Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch will overturn the controversial laws on abortion.
The move signals that the House of Representatives does not believe the topic of abortion is settled with the populace.
39 Senators and 168 Representatives signaled to the court that Louisiana clinics, the target in June Medical Services v. Gee, show many safety violations and showing that the members feel it is the right time for the court to reconsider the legal foundation of Roe v. Wade altogether.
39 Republican senators sign amicus brief asking SCOTUS to consider overturning *Roe v. Wade & Casey.*
Brief calls the right to abortion in Roe unworkable.https://t.co/wtJbew38fc via @GregStohr pic.twitter.com/PULQhUCcKF
— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) January 2, 2020
“Roe V. Wade Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which the Court ruled that the Constitution of the United States protects a pregnant woman’s liberty to choose to have an abortion without excessive government restriction”, according to Wikipedia.
“Roe’s jurisprudence has been characterized by Delphic confusion and protean change,” the members wrote in the brief.
Representatives Collin C. Peterson of Minnesota and Daniel Lipinski of Illinois joined the Republicans and signed the brief.
Republican Senators who did not sign the brief include Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Martha McSally of Arizona, Shelly Moore Capito of West Virginia, Corey Gardner Colorado, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Josh Hawley of Missouri, David Perdue of Georgia, Rick Scott of South Carolina, Richard Shelby of Alabama.
Democrats were quick to turn against Lipinski for siding with the pro-life movement, supporting his primary challenger’s campaign on Twitter.
Please follow & support @Marie4Congress — she is the Democratic opponent of 1 of 2 Dems who supported Roe v. Wade reversal. We need to get Lipinski GONE. #RoeVsWade https://t.co/x9SIhd2gyv
— Ani Bell (@GoodJuJuGuru) January 3, 2020
Alexis McGill Johnson, acting president of Planned Parenthood, the world’s largest abortion provider and political lobbying group, said the Louisiana law and the amicus brief are both attempts to frame “abortion care as unsafe.”
“Asking the Supreme Court to reconsider overturning Roe is an assault on our basic rights, plain and simple,” tweeted Johnson. “Abortion is safe and legal, and we’re doing everything we can to keep it that way.”
Opponents of Justice Kavanaugh, including radical activists like Hollywood actress Alyssa Milano, were active on Twitter promising to fight harder for abortion, promising that Roe V. Wade would be a rallying point for both Republicans and Democrats for the 2020 election cycle.
Get ready to fight like hell, ladies and the men who love them.
Are you ready?!
Roll Call! I’ll go first.
Alyssa, Los Angeles, and I’m ready to fight for a woman’s right to choose her destiny. #roevswade https://t.co/J27eWe7ezp
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) January 3, 2020
