Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California Statement on Leaked Draft Opinion Showing SCOTUS Intent to Completely Overturn Roe v Wade

May 2, 2022
Brandon Richards, Director of Communications
[email protected]

POLITICO Exclusive Shows Supreme Court Justice Alito Seeking to Eliminate Constitutional Right to Abortion Entirely

SACRAMENTO – Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) released the following statement from President and CEO Jodi Hicks in response to the exclusive story in POLITICO showing U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito’s draft opinion in which he writes, “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled.”

“This is the nightmare scenario we in the reproductive health, rights, and justice space have been sounding the alarm about and especially once the U.S. Supreme Court had a conservative majority,” said Jodi Hicks, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. “The extreme conservatives on the Supreme Court have already shown their blatant disregard for constitutional rights when they allowed S.B. 8 to stand in Texas. And now, if this opinion truly is reflective of the final decision of the majority of the U.S. Supreme Court Justices, then even if abortion remains legal today, we are just days away from more than 26 states banning access to abortion services, essential and safe health care that has been a constitutional right for nearly 50 years. Make no mistake about it, the plan has always been to ban and criminalize abortion ever since 1973 when Roe v Wade was decided.”

“To Californians, and people who may seek care here due to hostile bans in their home state, know this: Planned Parenthood health centers across California will remain open. They will remain willing to help. And we will do all we can to continue to provide abortion services to all who need it or seek it here in California.”

The Guttmacher Institute research indicated more than 36 million people will lose access to abortion if or when the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v Wade via the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

The California Future of Abortion Council, which Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California is a leading member of, is supporting 13 bills this California legislative session to protect and expand access to abortion – all 13 have passed out of their policy committees in the first chamber.

**NOTE: Interviews can be scheduled beginning tomorrow morning

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Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) is the state public policy office representing California’s seven separately incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates. Through advocacy and electoral action, PPAC promotes sound public policy in areas of sexual and reproductive health care and sex education.