Image Credit: Students For Life & Thomas R Machnitzki / CC
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
A leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court that could overturn Roe v. Wade has many in Tennessee wondering how this would affect abortion access in the state.
The draft, written by Justice Samuel Alito, was released by Politico on Monday evening. In the draft, Alito said, “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled.”
“Deliberations on controversial cases have in the past been fluid,” according to Politico. “Justices can and sometimes do change their votes as draft opinions circulate and major decisions can be subject to multiple drafts and vote-trading, sometimes until just days before a decision is unveiled. The court’s holding will not be final until it is published, likely in the next two months.”
If the ruling does eliminate abortion rights at the federal level, states would be left with the ability to make their own laws on the issue.
*** Click Here to Support Conservative Journalism in Tennessee. We can’t cover stories like this without your support!***
In Tennessee, there are new laws in place that will automatically go into effect if Roe v. Wade is overturned and will make abortion unavailable to women in the state.
In 2019, Tennessee legislators passed the “Human Life Protection Act.” This would make it a felony to provide abortion treatments. Violators would face a number of consequences, including loss of voting rights, fines, and possible prison time.
This is one of several “trigger laws” that would trigger after a Supreme Court decision. The law would go into effect thirty days after the Supreme Court decides to overturn Roe v. Wade or if Congress amends the constitution to ban abortions.
According to Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life, leaking the document is likely a tactic of liberals with the intent of stirring up those in favor of abortion in an effort to taint the work of the Court.
“The Court cannot allow the bullying tactics of the Left combined with the threat of chaos caused by an unprecedented leak to change the right course – the end of Roe. But I’m afraid this leak is nothing more than a bullying tactic by the pro-abortion Left to gin up media hysteria and pro-abortion radicals to convince a pro-life justice to cave into their demands,” Hawkins said in a press release.
The Supreme Court leak of the draft of the majority decision has since been verified as authentic by the Court. Note: This was only a draft decision…no final decision has been released yet.
U.S. Senator Martha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) warns that Democrats are using the media to wage an attack on the Supreme Court after the draft was leaked.
“This is what the Democrats do when they do not get their way. They go to the media. They would coach the witnesses because they want things to go their way. If they can’t get it done legislatively, and if they are not going to get it done in the Court, they attack the courts,” Blackburn said.
Blackburn continued, “I have no doubt the Chief Justice will work to root out the radical activist that betrayed the sacred tradition of the court. The leaker must be immediately removed from their position and exiled from the legal community.”
Senator Bill Hagerty also noted Tuesday on Twitter that the leak itself was an attack.
“This unprecedented and unethical leak is designed to tear down our highest institutions, and a thorough investigation is required to hold the leaker accountable. I’m Pro-Life and confident that the rule of law will prevail over this sad attempt to intimidate. #SCOTUS,” the tweet read.
Governor Bill Lee said, “”I am concerned by the leak and any attempt to thwart justice. If the federal courts return full authority to the states, Tennessee’s laws will automatically provide the maximum possible protection and offer a glimmer of redemption as America reconciles our troubled past. We are talking about families in crisis — not isolated clinical procedures — and our state will continue to provide protection, resources and care for both mother and child.”
The Tennessee Lookout reports that Rep. Jason Zachary, a Knoxville Republican, said “If the leaked document truly represents the pending opinion of the judges, it will save millions of babies’ lives across our nation by pushing the decisions about abortion back to the states.”
Asked whether women could put themselves in danger by seeking abortions from unlicensed clinics, Zachary pointed out that based on the trigger bill, any unlicensed doctor who performs an abortion could be charged with a felony.
Tennessee’s trigger bill would effectively ban abortions in Tennessee if Roe is overturned, Zachary said, adding he consulted with Attorney General Herbert Slatery Tuesday morning and was told the state could “navigate” other legal avenues if Roe is not struck down as a whole.
“I’m encouraged and praying for our Justices,” Zachary said.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
5 Responses
Conservatives don’t get abortions, liberals do. Overturning Roe v Wade will mean more liberal Democrats. Since 1975 there have been 20 million abortions – 90% by liberals – most were unwed poor young women on welfare. Without those abortions, the Dems would be in total control and America would be a Marxist nation.
If the Court overturns Roe, it will motivate Dems to vote in the Nov. elections and hurt Republicans chances of winning. Polls show that between 63% and 72% of Americans oppose overturning Roe v Wade. Republicans are making a mistake to ignore that. Dems are already talking about abolishing the Filibuster and increasing the Court from 9 to 11. Republicans will lose some moderate voters. If the Dems stay in control, it will mean millions more illegals flooding into the U.S., more censorship. less Free Speech, more weaponizing the bureaucracy, more spending and inflation, higher gas prices, etc.
That’s what I’m worried about too.
And, many people don’t understand that overturning RoeVWade will not make abortion legal at the state level ( depending upon the state of course) .
I had to school a few liberals today.
We need to take back the House and Senate.
Someone actually said to me today that if RVW is overturned, more women will be murdered by their boyfriend/husband due to an unwanted pregnancy.
This shocked me but I’d like to see the statistics.
Abortion is wrong and it should have never been implemented, it is the murder of innocent babies.
I have never been against abortion in certain cases, i.e. rape or incest. What I am against is using abortion as the first choice of birth control. If a women has that control over her body, why don’t I have the same control over mind, you know, “Hey Doc, I’ve had it with old world, prescribe a kill me pill. If a fetus doesn’t have the right to survive the whims of the mother, how is it a double murder if a pregnant woman is murdered. If after the baby is born, some states allow the murder or the child outside the woman’s body. Why can’t I make the legal choice to kill someone I don’t want around me. Call me ludicrous but equal rights mean equal rights.
In the 1950-1960 Era, only latex condoms/spermacidal jelly available, back door or DIY Abortions resulted in deaths from infection, hemorrhaging or women were sent to unwed mothers homes. Roe v Wade passed.
Today a huge variety of Birth control, pills, implants, etc should be made affordable or free through Planned Parenthood, taxes better spent on pregnancy prevention, women’s health,
and STD treatments/prevention for both men/women. Abortion should be reserved for Medical necessity not a method of birth control. Abortion can have an emotional toll on women a risk factor rarely taken into consideration.