Supreme Court Hears Abortion Challenge
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case. The Court will be deciding whether Mississippi’s ban on abortion after 15 weeks is constitutional or in violation of the precedent set by the 1973 Roe v. Wade case.
Legal experts believe that the questions posed by the most conservative justices on the court indicate that they are ready to overturn the politically polarizing Roe decision. Political leaders and pro choice advocates are bracing for that possibility.
How do legal experts interpret Chief Justice John Roberts line of questioning during oral arguments?
INSTRUCTORS: click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt and a debate question as well as other assessment questions.
Videos:
News Articles:
Roe v. Wade’s future is in doubt after historic arguments at Supreme Court
NPR
12/1/21
Critical Moment for Roe, and the Supreme Court’s Legitimacy
New York Times
12/4/21
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/04/us/mississippi-supreme-court-abortion-roe-v-wade.html
Supreme Court conservatives look ready to gut Roe v. Wade during arguments in Mississippi abortion case
CNBC
12/1/21
Roe at Risk as Supreme Court Weighs Mississippi Abortion Case
U.S. News and World Report
12/1/21
News Articles (Analyses):
21 states poised to ban or severely restrict abortion if ‘Roe v. Wade’ is overturned
NPR
12/2/21
Abortion rights advocates in Mississippi strategize for a post-Roe world
NBC News
12/1/21
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/supreme-court-abortion-mississippi-advocates-rcna7249
Supreme Court hearing oral arguments in case that could overturn landmark abortion ruling in Roe v. Wade
Fox News
12/1/21
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/supreme-court-dobbs-abortion
Fate of Roe v. Wade in the hands of the Supreme Court after spirited arguments
The Washington Post
12/1/21
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/12/01/supreme-court-mississippi-abortion-live-updates/
Assessment:
Writing: Explain why the Supreme Court ruled in 1973 that the right to abortion was legal in the landmark Roe v. Wade case. Why has this decision been so politically polarizing for so long?
Debate: Did the Supreme Court’s ruling in Roe v. Wade contribute to the polarization of abortion as a political issue?
Poll: Should states set their own rules on abortion rights?
Short Answer: Describe how Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death might ultimately contribute to the revocation of Roe v. Wade?
QUIZ:
How many states submitted amicus curiae briefs in support of Mississippi?
a. twelve
b. twenty-four
c. thirty-six
d. fifty
Justice Brett Kavanaugh suggested that the Supreme Court needed to take a more _____ role on the question of abortion.
a. activist
b. protectionist
c. neutral
d. political
Justice Amy Coney Barrett suggested what as an alternative to abortion?
a. adoption
b. contraception
c. education
d. fines
The state legislature of Mississippi has indicated that they will only restrict abortion up to fifteen weeks regardless of how the Supreme Court Rules. (T/F)
Chief Justice John Roberts seemed to stake a middle ground position during oral arguments. (T/F)
Justice Sonia Sotomayor spoke most forcefully against the political damage that overturning Roe v. Wade would do to the Supreme Court. (T/F)
