On Monday, May 17, 2021, the Supreme Court immersed back into the debate of abortion by agreeing to hear a case that may overturn Roe v. Wade. According to The New York Times, the new case concerns a Mississippi law that is seeking to ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. This case could undermine the constitutional right established in Roe v. Wade. This case is to be heard in the fall of 2022 in the next term of the Supreme Court Judges. This case involves Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. 

Nancy Northup, president of the Center of Reproduction Rights, stated “The Supreme Court just agreed to review an abortion ban that unquestionably violates nearly 50 years of Supreme Court precedent and is a test case to overturn Roe v. Wade.” She continues to state, “The consequences of a Roe reversal would be devastating. Over 20 states would prohibit abortion outright. Eleven states – including Mississippi – currently have trigger bans on the books which would instantaneously ban abortion if Roe is overturned,” reported The Los Angeles Times. They will most likely deliver their decision in the spring or early summer of 2022.

On May 20, 2021, the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, recently signed a law that bans abortion as early as six weeks of pregnancy. Another name for the bill is the “Heartbeat Law,” which has inspired other states to beginning discussing abortion rights as well. “According to the Center of Reproductive Rights, state legislatures have introduced 549 new abortion restrictions so far in 2021,” reports the Rolling Stone.