Abortion: Experts explain today's ruling

+ what happens next – a special edition of our newsletter US Edition - Today's top story: 'A revolutionary ruling — and not just for abortion:’ a supreme court scholar explains the impact of Dobbs [View in browser]( US Edition | 24 June 2022 [The Conversation]( In a year filled with momentous events, from war to mass shootings, the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to remove constitutional protection for abortion was equally consequential, if not more so. In its reversal of half a century of abortion rights, the justices outraged one group of Americans and gratified another. The 200-plus pages of the opinion will be studied for years, even decades. And that’s because, as political scientist Morgan Marietta writes, the reversal of Roe shows a changed Supreme Court. While the past 50 years on the court were dominated by a view that the Constitution is a living document where “[the meaning of the document’s language changes as the beliefs and values of Americans change](,” now the court is dominated by virtually the opposite view, writes Marietta, who teaches at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. In this view, and in the opinion overruling Roe, “the Constitution is static until officially altered by amendment” and “does not evolve on its own without public approval.” Which means, ultimately, that the battles over what were once considered protected rights move from the Supreme Court to states. Where you live will now determine whether you can get an abortion, writes Marietta. And possibly, in the future, whom you can marry. We have a range of stories today for you on the court’s decision, from [what it will mean for state courts]( to [what happens now that so-called “trigger laws” have been triggered](. We’ll be having much more for you on these complicated topics in the next few days; if you have any particular aspects you feel need to be explained by experts, please reply to this email. Naomi Schalit Senior Editor, Politics + Society Anti-abortion protestors celebrate the overturning of Roe v. Wade outside the US Supreme Court on June 24. Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images [‘A revolutionary ruling — and not just for abortion:’ A supreme court scholar explains the impact of Dobbs]( Morgan Marietta, UMass Lowell A Supreme Court scholar untangles the ideas that undergird the historic ruling overturning the Constitutional right to an abortion. Temporary security fencing surrounds the U.S. Supreme Court building, ahead of its decision on abortion. Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images [State courts from Oregon to Georgia will now decide who – if anyone – can get an abortion under 50 different state constitutions]( Stefanie Lindquist, Arizona State University State supreme courts have a relatively low profile in the US. That’s going to change now that they will be under political pressure to decide whether abortion is protected in state constitutions. - [Roe overturned: What you need to know about the Supreme Court abortion decision]( Linda C. McClain, Boston University; Nicole Huberfeld, Boston University By a 6 to 3 majority, the Supreme Court decided to overrule the landmark Roe decision and end almost 50 years of access to abortion being a constitution right. - [What the Supreme Court’s ruling on abortion means for women’s health and well-being: 4 essential reads]( Matt Williams, The Conversation Scholars explain how the Supreme Court’s ruling on abortion is likely to affect women’s health. - [Online data could be used against people seeking abortions now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned]( Nora McDonald, University of Cincinnati Data privacy is an abstract issue for most people, even though virtually everyone is at risk. Now that abortion may become illegal in some states, digital surveillance could take an even darker turn. - [America’s religious communities are divided over the issue of abortion: 5 essential reads]( Kalpana Jain, The Conversation Scholars explain why many see abortion access as a religious freedom issue and what the views of different faiths are on ‘ensoulment,’ the point at which the soul is believed to enter the fetus. - [Privacy isn’t in the Constitution – but it’s everywhere in constitutional law]( Scott Skinner-Thompson, University of Colorado Boulder The Supreme Court has found protections for people’s privacy in several constitutional amendments – and used it as a basis for some pretty fundamental protections. - [Supreme Court overturns Roe, upends 50 years of abortion rights: 5 essential reads on what happens next]( Matt Williams, The Conversation The Supreme Court on June 24, 2022, issued a ruling that overturned decades of constitutional abortion rights for women in the US. Scholars explain the significance of the decision. - [What triggers the ‘trigger laws’ that could ban abortions?]( Naomi Cahn, University of Virginia There are 13 states with so-called ‘trigger laws’ that aim to ban abortion now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade. But what actually must happen for the laws to take effect? - - About The Conversation: We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](