Abortion rights in 'dire, immediate danger' as Anthony Kennedy retires

[niyad]

Abortion rights in 'dire, immediate danger' as Anthony Kennedy retires

Potential nominees shortlisted by Trump are believed to be jurists who would overturn the landmark decision Roe v Wade



The US supreme court legalized abortion in 1973. Now, 45 years later, activists say the departure of the court’s moderate, Justice Anthony Kennedy, represents the most direct threat to reproductive freedom since abortion was legalized. Pro-choice advocates said Kennedy’s retirement represents a “dire, immediate danger” to women’s reproductive freedom. Though the supreme court is not expected to rule on abortion matters in the near future, all of the potential nominees shortlisted by the Trump administration are believed to be jurists who would overturn the landmark decision, Roe v Wade, given the opportunity.

“Today, Justice Kennedy announced his retirement, and because President Trump will nominate the next supreme court justice, a woman’s constitutional right to access legal abortion is in dire, immediate danger – along with the fundamental rights of all Americans,” said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “Our country faces a moment of deep crisis – a crisis of rights, of values and of leadership,” she said. “The deeply-divided decisions from the supreme court this week are a clear warning that our most cherished values are in jeopardy, and now hang in the balance. Women will not go back to the days when abortion was illegal in this country.”

Anti-abortion activists, meanwhile, described Kennedy’s retirement as a turning point in the movement. “Justice Kennedy’s retirement from the supreme court makes a pivotal moment for the fight to ensure every unborn child is welcomed and protected under the law,” said Susan B Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfelser. For decades, American anti-abortion activists have chipped away at reproductive freedoms, as legislatures piled on restrictions. That strategy was developed, in part, to avoid court decisions that could strengthen Roe’s precedent. Kennedy’s retirement is likely to further embolden anti-abortion activists, who have already started to pass some of the world’s most restrictive anti-abortion laws.

For example, in Iowa, activists successfully passed a ban on abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected, roughly six weeks into a pregnancy. That is before most women know they are pregnant. At the time, activists intended for the law to end up in court, which it has, where it could be appealed to higher and higher courts. Eventually, they hoped, it would land in the supreme court. Trump has also made dozens of conservative nominations to lower courts, making it more likely for Roe to be challenged in the supreme court. Kennedy’s departure is Trump’s second opportunity to nominate a justice to a lifetime supreme court seat. There are nine justices, four conservative and four liberal. Kennedy, 82, considered a moderate conservative, was an unpredictable swing vote.

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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/27/abortion-rights-immediate-danger-anthony-kennedy-retires

[CrispyQ]

1. Forcing women to be slaves to a clump of cells.

Birth control will be next. How long before they go after our voting rights? People say that can't happen, but some far right extremists have already talked of it during the last campaign.

[niyad]

3. sadly, you are correct. I rememer the calls for repealing women's suffrage--I expect

the call will only get louder.

[Cary]

2. The dog catches the car

They want to impose their religion on us. There will be a backlash like they have never imagined.

[sandensea]

4. Next stop: An orphanage industry, paid for with taxpayer dollars.

But with privatized profits.

A lot of these same outfits will get in on the action, no doubt:

[niyad]

5. yes

[sandensea]

6. And Cheeto is probably trying to get in on the ground floor as we speak.

"We gotta get in on this orphanage action, Mike! Once people start dumping their unwanted babies by the thousands, you know much money we could make!!?"

[niyad]

7. I can just hear that converstion

[uppityperson]

8. This makes me sick. How can we have to be fighting this again? Rhetorical question

[BigmanPigman]

9. Rachel Maddow said that she expects that abortion will be illegal

in half the states a year from now. Maybe this will get women who didn't vote for Hillary to vote. Maybe this will finally get the millenials to vote. It has to take something horrific for some people to wake up and when they don't is usually too late. I have no pity for anyone's current or future personal situation if they chose to not vote for the Dem in the last election.

[niyad]

10. we tried to tell them, they would not listen. and we have to pick up the pieces, always.

[BigmanPigman]

11. I know, same old same old. It is tiring.