Supreme Court abortion ruling updates: Americans can get abortions in Canada: Trudeau

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

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.

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.


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Advocacy group calls on DOD to support servicewomen, families as abortion bans begin to take effect

Advocacy group "Not in My Marine Corps," started by former marine and Department of Defense civil servant Erin Kirk Cuomo, called on leaders to support servicewomen and families in areas where abortion bans have begun to take effect. The group has worked to raise awareness around sexual assault in the military.

The group is calling on leaders in the department and Virginia to:

  • Push for "compassionate reassignment" policies to let active duty women (and families) currently stationed in states with trigger laws appeal for reassignment
  • Guarantee service members in need of abortion will be able to cross state lines
  • Put an end to the Hyde Amendment so military bases can provide more abortion care.
  • "It'll be interesting to see what DoD comes out within the next several days. We've known that this is going to be happening for months now. So they should have they should have been working on these policies," Cuomo added.

    Because of the Hyde Amendment, the department's military medical program doesn’t regularly perform abortions, so service members would rely on providers in the state.

    Earlier this month, Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, introduced legislation that did not call for a full repeal of Hyde, but for a more tailored change in policy to allow military doctors on military bases provide abortion access for service members. There is a companion bill in the House.

    "While states like New York will remain a safe haven for reproductive freedom, the reproductive rights of women serving at Fort Hood in Texas or other conservative states could be in jeopardy," Gillibrand wrote, introducing the bill.


    Biden says administration will examine implementation of state abortion laws

    President Joe Biden commented on states implementing abortion bans, vowing to act, the morning after the Supreme Court overturned federal abortion rights.

    “The decision is implemented by states. My administration is going to focus on how they administer it, and whether or not they violate other laws, like deciding who is not allowed across state lines to get public health services. And we're gonna take actions to protect women's rights and reproductive health,” Biden vowed.

    Asked if he thought the court is broken, Biden said, “I think the Supreme Court has made some terrible decisions.”


    Blinken vows to ensure reproductive care access to State Department employees

    Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the State Department will do everything in its power to ensure its employees have access to reproductive health services no matter where they live, vowing not to waver from this commitment.

    Adding, "Under this Administration, the State Department will remain fully committed to helping provide access to reproductive health services and advancing reproductive rights around the world," Blinken said in a statement.


    Truck runs over woman’s foot

    A man in a truck hit two women Friday during a pro-abortion protest outside the U.S. District Court Federal Court House in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and injured one.

    Video on social media showed a man in a truck striking protestors, ripping signs as he drove and then hit two women who were crossing the street and ran over the feet of one woman.

    There have been nationwide protests in the fallout of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed a constitutional right to an abortion.

    The Cedar Rapids police department is conducting an investigation.


    HHS 'unveils action plan' in response to SCOTUS decision

    Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra announced Tuesday the agency is taking steps to expand access to abortion after the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade.

    "Friday’s Supreme Court decision was despicable. But it was not unpredictable,” he said at a press conference.

    He continued, “There is no magic bullet. But if there is something we can do, we will find it and we will do it at HHS.”

    As part of the "action plan," Becerra said the agency will increase access to medication abortion, with federal law already requiring programs to provide medication abortion in certain cases like rape, incest and when woman's life in is danger.

    He said he's also directing the HHS civil rights office to ensure patient privacy and non-discrimination for those seeking reproductive care and for providers.

    In addition, Becerra said he is directing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to make sure family planning care, including contraceptives, are covered.