Protesters gather outside court as justices set to hear arguments in first major abortion case since Roe v Wade was overturned
Good morning, US politics blog readers. Nearly two years after overturning Roe v Wade and allowing states to ban abortion, the supreme court will today at 10am ET hear arguments in a case that could limit the availability of abortion pill mifepristone. It’s the first time the justices will address reproductive rights since the Dobbs decision in 2022, and will be argued before a court that is ideologically quite similar to the one that decided that case. Conservative justices, including the same five who voted to strike down Roe, dominate the court with a six-seat majority, while liberals hold a three-seat minority.
The arguments come as evidence emerges that usage of abortion medication has soared among Americans. A decision limiting access to mifepristone could also cause tumult in the presidential race, and is sure to be seized on by Joe Biden to argue that it’s a sign of what Donald Trump would do if put back in the White House. Trump did, after all, appoint three justices to the court and tip it decisively to the conservatives – all of whom voted to overturn Roe.
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