Republicans in Congress praised the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization on Friday, which overturned Roe v. Wade’s holding that Americans have a constitutional right to an abortion.
Associate Justice Samuel Alito wrote for a six-justice majority that “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start.” Associate Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch joined Alito’s majority opinion, while Associate Justices Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh and Chief Justice John Roberts issued concurring opinions. Alito’s final opinion was similar to a leaked draft opinion showing that the justices would overrule Roe.
Republicans praised the ruling while denouncing a pressure campaign against the justices stemming from the leaked draft opinion. (RELATED: REPORT: Justice Roberts ‘Likely’ To Order FBI Investigation Into SCOTUS Leak)
“Every unborn child is precious, extraordinary, and worthy of protection. I applaud this historic ruling, which will save countless innocent lives,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy tweeted.
Every unborn child is precious, extraordinary, and worthy of protection. I applaud this historic ruling, which will save countless innocent lives.
The Court is right to return the power to protect the unborn to the people’s elected representatives in Congress and the states.
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) June 24, 2022
“This is one of the most momentous days in American history for the dignity and sanctity of every human life. This is just the beginning of a new era to define the human rights issue of our generation and to provide care, hope, and support for moms and their children at every stage of their lives,” Washington Rep. and House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers said in a statement.
“Speaker Pelosi and the Democrats want an extreme and discriminatory pro-abortion agenda to be the law of the land. Their Abortion on Demand Until Birth Act nationalizes abortions for all nine months, making America just as radical as China and North Korea,” she added of the Women’s Health Protection Act, which passed the House in September 2021 but failed in the Senate.
“Roe was a tragic mistake, taking from the American people and their elected representatives a deeply moral question. The Supreme Court has finally corrected this mistake and I highly commend the millions of Americans who toiled for years to achieve this great victory for unborn life and self-government,” Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton said.
“Roe’s days are over, but the pro-life movement’s work has just begun. This issue will now be debated in the 50 states, and a 330,000,000-person, continental nation will work through this debate in a way that’s healthier than Roe’s one-size-fits-all, Washington-centrism. The pro-life movement is pro-baby, pro-mom, and pro-science,” Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse added.
“In spite of the doxxing of their homes, violent threats and intimidation, and even a plot to assassinate Justice Kavanaugh, the Court held strong. There is no room for political violence in America,” he continued.
Many Democrats and liberals vehemently condemned the decision in statements and on social media.