The scope of abortion in the U.S. is at stake Wednesday as the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, potentially the most consequential challenge to the 1973 Roe. v. Wade landmark ruling that limited government restrictions on abortion. Here are some key details about the case and what you can expect:
What’s Happening
The state of Mississippi will be arguing that the Supreme Court should allow it and other states to ban abortion after 15 weeks. More specifically, it’s asking the court to strike down a lower court’s decision blocking its 15-week abortion ban from taking effect. Passed in 2018, Mississippi’s law encountered a legal challenge from Jackson Women’s Health Organization, an abortion clinic that claims Mississippi’s law is unconstitutional and should be permanently blocked because it violates previous court decisions on the issue.
The court’s nine justices will be present and have the chance to ask both sides about their reasoning. For Mississippi, the state’s solicitor general, Scott Stewart, will be arguing in favor of the law. On the other side will be attorney Julie Rikelman and U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar.