Recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court
Identify a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court and discuss the nature of the case and the basis of the argument the Supreme Court used to reach the decision. Explain why you agree or disagree with the ruling?
Sample Solution
A recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that I would like to discuss is Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (2022). This case was about a Mississippi law that banned abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 case that established the constitutional right to abortion, and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the 1992 case that reaffirmed Roe.
The Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion and that abortion laws should be decided by the states. The Court reasoned that the issue of abortion is a "deeply moral" one that should be decided by the "people of the states" rather than the federal judiciary.
The Court's decision in Dobbs has been met with mixed reactions. Some people have praised the decision as a victory for the pro-life movement, while others have condemned it as an attack on women's rights and reproductive healthcare.
Arguments in favor of the ruling:
- The Constitution does not explicitly mention abortion, and the Court ruled that there is no implied right to abortion in the Constitution.
- The Court argued that the issue of abortion is a moral one that should be decided by the states, not the federal judiciary.
- The Court also argued that Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey were wrongly decided and that they have had negative consequences, such as increasing polarization and division.
- The Court's decision overturns a landmark case that has been in place for nearly 50 years and that has established the constitutional right to abortion.
- The decision is likely to lead to a patchwork of abortion laws across the country, with some states having very restrictive laws and others having more permissive laws.
- This could have a disproportionate impact on low-income women and women of color, who may have fewer resources to travel to states where abortion is legal.
- The decision is also likely to have a negative impact on women's health and well-being.