Currents News Staff
More state courts are weighing in on abortion access and the federal government is too. In Louisiana, abortions just became legal again and in Minnesota, a judge declared restrictions on them unconstitutional.
The rest of the country in this post-Roe era – bans and restrictions are likely in certain states and some are in limbo. People can travel across state lines for the procedures, but some worry about stronger pro-life measures.
“As an African American,” said Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, “what I hear when I hear that is fugitive slave laws.”
In a Senate committee hearing yesterday, a witness pushed back when asked why she doesn’t call all people who can get pregnant “women.”
“Your line of questioning is transphobic,” said Khiara Bridges, a Professor at UC Berkeley School of Law, “and it opens up trans people to violence.”
Senator Josh Hawley bristled at the characterization. House and Senate committees are discussing abortion access again today. That comes as the Justice Department announces a Reproductive Rights Task Force.
It was created to safeguard things like patient privacy and access to medication abortion. That idea has some pro-life advocates worried. Some Republicans would rather see the ban on protests at the homes of Supreme Court Justices enforced.
“I’ve called on the Justice Department to protect the justices and their families,” said Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley.
Other lawmakers say they’re concerned about other rights the High Court might strip away.
The barrage of court filings means that for roughly half of the country – the legal status of abortion is still uncertain nearly a month after the Supreme Court overturned Roe.