Supreme Court to Review Mississippi Abortion Law

The Supreme Court announced Monday it would review a major abortion dispute that could roll back abortion protections under Roe v. Wade. The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, questions the constitutionality of a 2018 Mississippi law which banned abortions after 15 weeks. A federal judge struck down the law later that year, ruling that it conflicted with Roe v. Wade’s precedent that abortion could not be banned before “viability,” or the potential of the fetus to survive outside the uterus after birth. The review, which was requested by Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, will be held after the Supreme Court’s summer recess and will focus on the question of “whether all pre-viability prohibitions on elective abortions are unconstitutional.” Coverage was widespread and prominently featured in outlets across the spectrum. Coverage in right-rated outlets was less likely to mention the Supreme Court’s 6-3 conservative majority.