(WFXR) — A major concern for many, regardless of what side of the abortion rights debate they end up on, is the fact that a Supreme Court document that was supposed to remain closely guarded, has been leaked.
For a Salem college professor who supports women’s reproductive rights to choose, this document presents a huge problem.
“I think it becomes a matter of life and death for women of childbearing age and for all of those who love them,” said Dr. Ivonne Wallace-Fuentes, a professor at Roanoke College and organizer of the Roanoke Women’s March.
Dr. Wallace-Fuentes says not only is childbearing in jeopardy, but also rights in general.
“A lot of people are concerned this same logic may be used to next attack access to contraception or marriage equality,” the professor explained. “So, I think that’s part of the reason why people are not just surprised but in many cases quite fearful.”
The President of the National Right to Life Committee, Carol Tobias of North Dakota, says she is cautiously optimistic that the Supreme Court will restrict abortion on a federal basis.
“I’m cautiously optimistic, but until we get the final decision from the court, I’m not going to, you know, I guess move forward or assume anything is final,” said Tobias. “It was just a draft and judges, justices can still change their minds, sign on to a different opinion, so as far as I’m concerned, everything is still up in the air.”
The draft opinion would shift authority over abortion from the federal government to the states.
A Virginia Tech political science professor, Dr. Karen Hult, says this has the chance to have a political impact on this year’s midterm elections.
“Will that be an issue in their races, of course, it will. And I think what it’s going to do on both sides and both parties are to really mobilize people to begin to look at what’s likely to go on at the national level and state level,” said Dr. Hult.
WFXR News also reached out to Congressman Ben Cline (R-Va.), who sent the following statement:
“The judicial process must be non-political and always be rooted in the letter of the law. This leak undermines the confidence the American people have in the Supreme Court, it erodes the trust the Justices have in one another, and it hurts the confidentiality necessary for the Court to discuss cases before them. I will always seek to protect the sanctity of life, and I hope and pray that the Supreme Court will do the same when it rules on this case later this year.”
