Supreme Court abortion ruling updates: WH warns of ‘nightmare scenarios’

The Supreme Court voted to overrule the decisions of Roe and Casey.

ByMeredith Deliso, Mark Osborne, Nadine El-Bawab, Mary Kekatos, Alexandra Svokos, Kate Pastor, Haley Yamada, Stephanie Guerilus , and Melissa Gaffney
Last Updated: June 29, 2022, 4:29 PM EDT

The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in a much-anticipated ruling Friday in one of its biggest decisions this term.

The court voted 5-4, largely along party lines, to overturn Roe and 6-3, in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which involved Mississippi's ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Abortion rights supporters react to the overturning of Roe v Wade outside the United States Supreme Court in Washington, June 24, 2022.
Mary F. Calvert/Reuters

It appeared that the panel's conservative majority of justices was ready to overturn nearly 50 years of established abortion rights after last month's leaked draft decision indicated as much.

Top headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Jun 24, 2022, 12:04 PM EDT

NARAL Pro-Choice America condemns court decision, calling it 'worst-case scenario'

Mini Timmaraju, president of pro-abortion group NARAL, called the court's decision "the worst-case scenario" and warned the anti-abortion movement and its political allies want to enact a nationwide ban on abortion.

"The impact on the real lives of real people will be devastating. The Supreme Court has given the green light to extremist state lawmakers who will waste no time springing into action to put in place total bans on abortion," Timmaraju said in a statement.

"But it is not the end of this fight. The 8 in 10 Americans who support the legal right to abortion will not let this stand. There is an election in November, and extremist politicians will learn: when you come for our rights, we come for your seats," Timmaraju said.

Jun 24, 2022, 12:04 PM EDT

Capitol Police says demonstrators can protest near SCOTUS

Capitol Police said in a tweet Friday that demonstrators can protest near the Supreme Court but must listen to police instruction.

"Demonstrators are gathering on Capitol Grounds, near the U.S. Supreme Court." the tweet read.

"Protesters are allowed to peacefully demonstrate, however they must follow the officer's instructions so that everyone stays safe."

Jun 24, 2022, 11:45 AM EDT

Mississippi's only abortion clinic will be forced to close after court overturns Roe

Now that the Supreme Court has overruled Roe v. Wade, Mississippi's only abortion clinic, the clinic at the center of the court decision, will be forced to close.

The court's decision will uphold Mississippi's ban on abortions after 15 weeks, but the clinic will be forced to close in coming weeks when Mississippi's trigger law takes effect, banning abortions entirely.

Women in nearby states, especially in Texas, had traveled to Jackson seeking care, with 30 to 40% of patients being from out of state.

Shannon Brewer, director of that state's only abortion clinic still open, told ABC News ahead of the ruling that she sees a potentially more dangerous time for women, especially lower-income, minority women, grappling with unwanted or unintended pregnancies.

"No law, no court decision will stop abortion in Mississipi or anywhere. A woman who is desperate enough will try anything," she said.

The clinic performs about 2,500 abortions a year, only up to 16 weeks into pregnancy.

-ABC News' Devin Dwyer

Jun 24, 2022, 11:33 AM EDT

President Biden to speak at 12:30 p.m.

President Joe Biden will speak on the abortion ruling at 12:30 p.m., according to the White House.

Following the release of the draft opinion in May, Biden called abortion a "fundamental" right.

"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 in a statement at the time.