Democrats look to put pressure on Supreme Court following draft opinion leak

WASHINGTON (TND) — Emotions are running high across the country Tuesday after a rare leak of documents from inside the Supreme Court, revealing a majority of justices are poised to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Now, many are speculating on the political fallout and what it could mean for the upcoming elections.

Few subjects, embody Supreme Court controversy more than abortion. The passion is put on display with events each year and now, it's been amplified by the draft opinion indicating that the Supreme Court intends to reverse its landmark 1973 decision that gave women the right to abortion.

Some on the left say the reversal would be an extreme act, hoping to pressure justices to change their minds.

“If this decision holds, it’s really quite a radical decision,” President Joe Biden said.

Now, the numerous states that have already crafted laws to expand access to abortion or further limit it are questioning the legality of their measures as they await the Supreme Court’s final decision.

“I will just tell you that it rocks my confidence in the court right now,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.

Strong opinions are coming out on all sides.

“I have seen the world where abortion is illegal. We’re not going back—not now, not ever,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

But many are calling out the fact that if the court’s opinion stands, it would not make abortion illegal everywhere. Instead, it would give states the power to determine the legality themselves.

“If Roe v. Wade is overturned, the outcome will not be that abortion is suddenly illegal everywhere. The outcome will be that each state will decide,” Sen. Ted Cruz.

Several states are likely to put a ban on abortions, however, and the decision would give them the ability to do so.

Calls were quickly renewed for Congress to add more justices to the Supreme Court — which some call court-packing — to alter what’s seen as conservative leanings or even pass laws that would federally secure abortion rights.

“The elections this November will have consequences because the rights of 100 million women are now on the ballot. To help fight this court's awful decision, I urge every American to make their voices heard this week and this year,” Sen. Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech on Tuesday morning.

Democrats are calling for immediate action, noting the Senate confirms justices. The bombshell leak is shaping up to have a major impact on policymaking and campaigning in the lead-up to the midterms.

“This means that, once again, the midterm elections are about generating your base and making them mad at the other side. For liberal Democrats it’s ‘the right wants to take away women’s right to choose, they want to continue to restrict voting rights, don’t forget Donald Trump is still lurking in the bushes out there somewhere.’ On the right, it’s ‘we finally won, we’re finally getting forward.’ They might push other culture war issues,” said Peter Loge, a professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University.