Supreme Court says leaked abortion draft is authentic; Roberts orders investigation into leak
[ad_1]
Anti-abortion protestors and pro-abortion activists demonstrate outside the U.S. Supreme Court following the release of a draft majority opinion by Justice Samuel Alito. This was in preparation for a majority court vote to reverse the historic Roe v. Wade decision.
Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
Supreme Court Chief Judge John Roberts Tuesday confirmed that the authenticity a leaked draft court opinionHowever, the court would have to uphold long-standing abortion rights.
Roberts ordered an inquiry into the leaker.
In a statement, the chief justice stated that “To the extent this betrayal by the Court confidences was intended to undermine integrity of our operations it will fail.” “The Court’s work is not affected in any manner.”
Roberts stated, “I have instructed the Marshal to the Court that an investigation be launched into the source for the leak.”
It is almost unprecedented that a draft opinion be made public in advance at the highest court. Leaks are extremely rare here.
Roberts stated that opinions are shared internally by the Court long before being published publicly. He called it “a routine part of Court’s deliberative work”
This high-profile case of abortion was draft created in February. according to PoliticoIt was the latter that received the opinion.
Roberts claimed that justices, law clerks, and other staff of the court were “intensely loyal and committed to the rule and law”
Court employees are known for their excellent and significant tradition of upholding the Court’s trust and confidentiality. He said that this was an outrageous and serious breach of trust which is a reversal of the Court’s trust and the entire community of public servants that work there.”
The publication of the draft opinion rocked WashingtonThese developments triggered outrage and anger from Democrats, who want Congress to codify abortion rights immediately through legislation.
Republicans denounced the leak and called for an investigation similar to the one Roberts promised late Tuesday morning. Commentators from the GOP praised the draft opinion for placing decisions on abortion in the control of states and not the federal government.
Justice Samuel Alito wrote the 98-page draft opinion. He is one of six conservatives who serve on the court, which has been moving to the right after the Trump administration.
Alito’s draft would revoke the 1973 Roe V. Wade precedent, which was reaffirmed by Planned Parenthood in Casey 1992. These crucial rulings guarantee the right to abortion prior to the time of fetal viability.
Alito said: “We feel that Roe & Casey must be overruled.”
In Dobbs, v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the draft would support the state of Mississippi’s defense of a law banning almost all abortions within 15 weeks.
The law was blocked by lower federal courts on grounds it infringed the Roe and Casey protections.
This is the latest news. Keep checking back for more updates.
[ad_2]