According to a report by Politico, a leaked draft document written by Justice Samuel Alito suggests that the Supreme Court will vote to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that made abortion legal nationwide.
Politico reported that, in the draft majority opinion document, dated February 10, Justice Alito wrote, “the Constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision.”
If the law is overturned states would be able to decide whether to restrict or ban abortion.
“We do not know whether this draft is genuine, or whether it reflects the final decision of the Court,” President Joe Biden said in a written statement. “If the Court does overturn Roe, it will fall on our nation’s elected officials at all levels of government to protect a woman’s right to choose. And it will fall on voters to elect pro-choice officials this November. At the federal level, we will need more pro-choice Senators and a pro-choice majority in the House to adopt legislation that codifies Roe, which I will work to pass and sign into law.”
Biden continued to say that his administration “strongly” before the High Court in defense of Roe v. Wade.
“I believe that a woman’s right to choose is fundamental, Roe has been the law of the land for almost fifty years, and basic fairness and the stability of our law demand that it not be overturned,” Biden said.
On Tuesday, Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed the authenticity of a leaked draft document written by Justice Samuel Alito suggesting that the US Supreme Court will vote to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that made abortion legal nationwide. Roberts added that, while it is legitimate, it is not yet a final decision and directed the Marshal of the Court to launch an investigation into the leak. POLITICO was the first to report the leaked document on Monday, which is dated February 10.
Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed the authenticity of the leaked document on Tuesday. In the document, Justice Alito says “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start.” The decision is not final until it’s published, likely in the next two months, and justices can and sometimes do change their votes, according to POLITICO.