U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Roe v. Wade in Harmful Decision

abortion
June 27, 2022

In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and eliminated the constitutional right to an abortion that had existed for nearly 50 years. The decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization does not make abortion illegal: rather, it gives each state the power to determine that issue. Currently, there are 26 States certain or likely to ban abortion under all or most circumstances, and half of those states have so-called “trigger laws” to ban abortion upon Roe's reversal. Abortion providers will be prosecuted criminally in these states.
 
Thankfully, Connecticut is not one of them.

Connecticut codified into state law a woman’s right to choose in 1990 . And this year, the Connecticut General Assembly passed the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act, which legally protects medical providers and patients traveling to Connecticut seeking abortion care. Our state will not recognize, and not allow, anyone coming here for a procedure, or those performing it, to be sued or subject to liability. 

This legislation also allows for advanced practitioners for whom abortion care is part of their scope of practice to perform abortions. Governor Lamont has signed this legislation into law, putting our state at the forefront of protecting reproductive rights. You can read more about this the law Connecticut passed here:

 
But even in Connecticut, these rights are not safe. You can be sure that those who oppose abortion in Congress will seek to pass a national ban that would override Connecticut’s laws. If you care about this issue, and want to preserve the right to chose in Connecticut, I urge you to pay close attention to positions Congressional candidates are taking on the issue nationally, not just in Connecticut. 
 
Indeed, as disturbing as the decision is – reversing 50 years of precedent – at least one Justice (Thomas) has taken the position that the Dobbs ruling provides a basis for overruling other Supreme Court decisions that guaranteed a right to contraceptives, and protected same sex relationships and marriage. 
 
Vigilance is required.