The highest court in the United States is likely to uphold the law that could annul abortion rights

The US Supreme Court is likely to uphold the controversial law on abortion rights. (File)

Washington:

The conservative-dominated Supreme Court appeared on Wednesday to restore abortion rights in the United States by upholding a law in the southern state of Mississippi that would ban the procedure after 15 weeks.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the monumental courthouse in Washington as nine judges listened to two hours of arguments in the most important abortion case to reach the nation’s highest court in 50 years.

Mississippi’s general counsel, Scott Stewart, urged the court to uphold the state’s 15-week ban and drop landmark cases including women’s constitutional right to abortion.

While acknowledging abortion is a “hard issue”, Stewart argued that individual states should be allowed to make their own rules.

“When an issue affects everyone and when the Constitution doesn’t take sides, it’s up to the people,” he said. “This court should deal with Roe and Casey and respect state law.”

In a 1973 ruling, the Roe Supreme Court sued Wade, by a vote of 7-2, arguing that access to abortion was a constitutional right until the fetus had survived outside the womb, usually 22 to 24 weeks.

In a 1992 ruling, Planned Parenthood sued Casey, the court in favor of Roe and said states could not place an “undue burden” on a woman’s ability to have an abortion.

Law passed by a Republican-led legislature in Mississippi, a biblical belt state, would ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with no exception for rape or incest.

If the Mississippi law is upheld, more than two dozen other US states are expected to seek to restrict abortion.

The court is expected to make its decision in June.

‘Completely unconstitutional’

At least four of the six conservative-leaning judges — including two nominated by Donald Trump — appear receptive to overturning Roe v. Wade.

Two other conservatives, Chief Justices John Roberts and Neil Gorsuch, also Trump’s nominees, seem to favor a more conservative approach – upholding Mississippi law while not going so far as to bring Roe down.

“The issue in front of us today is 15 weeks,” said Roberts.

Attorney Julie Rikelman, arguing for the Center for Reproductive Rights, said the Mississippi law was “totally unconstitutional.”

“For a state to take control of a woman’s body and demand that she go through pregnancy and childbirth – with all of its physical risks and life-changing consequences,” says Rikelman. was a fundamental deprivation of her freedom,” Rikelman said.

Rikelman argues that maintaining viability is the legal cut-off point for abortion.

“Without viability, there will be no end,” she said. “Countries will rush to ban abortion at virtually any point in pregnancy.”

Attorney General Elizabeth Prelogar, representing the administration of President Joe Biden, said the court “never revoked such a fundamental right for so many Americans.”

“The actual effects of overestimating Roe and Casey will be severe and rapid,” Prelogar said.

Speaking to reporters after the trial, Biden said Roe suing Wade was a “reasonable position” and that he would “continue to support it.”

‘Alarm’

Elena Kagan, one of the court’s three liberal judges, said the right to have an abortion is “a constitutive part of the existence of women in this country.”

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, another libertarian, said that “a woman’s right to choose, to control her own body, is well established.”

“Overturning Roe” will give the impression that the court is a political body, says Sotomayor.

“Can this institution survive the stench this creates in the public perception that the Constitution and its reading are merely political acts?” she asked.

Amy Coney Barrett, a Trump nominee, has repeatedly asked why adoption cannot be seen as a viable alternative to abortion.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, also nominated by Trump, made clear that he believes access to abortion should be regulated by the states.

“Why should this court be an arbiter rather than Congress, the state legislatures, the state supreme court, the people,” Kavanaugh said.

“There will be different answers in Mississippi, in New York. The answers in Alabama are different from California,” he said. “Why isn’t that the correct answer?”

Prelogar, the attorney general, said that was not the right answer because the court had recognized that abortion was a “fundamental right of women” and “must not be left to state legislatures to decide whether to respect it or not.” respect them or not.”

Alexis McGill Johnson, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, a leading provider of abortion services, expressed concern about abortion rights after the trial.

“It’s alarming, though unsurprising, that the majority of Supreme Court justices are prepared to allow politicians to control what we can do with our bodies,” said McGill Johnson. me”.

As the court heard the arguments, hundreds of protesters gathered outside carrying signs that read “Abortion is murder” or – on the other side – “Abortion is health care.”

Opinion polls show that most Americans believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases.

But a part of the population, especially religious, has never accepted Roe’s verdict against Wade and has lobbied for it to be overturned.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was automatically generated from the feed provided.)