By Brandon Moseley
On Wednesday, the United States Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments in the Dobbs vs. Jackson abortion law case from Mississippi. The day before the court hears those oral arguments, the Mobile Republican Party will hold a prayer vigil.
The vigil will begin at 5:30 p.m. today at The Women's Resource Center at 718 Downtowner Loop W, Mobile, AL 36609.
"This is the strongest and closest case that has ever been in front of the Supremes on allowing the states to make their own decisions on abortion laws and removing the entire nation [out from] under the Roe v. Wade federal case," a letter from the Mobile GOP read. "…At the same time, we ask prayers for those who hurt from an abortion that they may have had and to share that the Women's Resource Center is here to help them. The Mobile County Republican Party supports life."
Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization is the result of a 2018 Mississippi law that banned abortion after 15 weeks. The Jackson Women's Health Organization, Mississippi's only remaining abortion clinic, sued, claiming that the law was unconstitutional under Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. In those two cases, the Supreme Court held that a state may not ban abortions before the baby reaches viability. The point of viability is the point where a baby can survive outside the womb. Typically, doctors consider this point to be at some time between 20 to 24 weeks.
The lower federal court found in favor of the Jackson Women's Health Organization and struck down Mississippi's law. Mississippi appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court granted its petition, agreeing to consider whether all pre-viability bans on abortion are unconstitutional or not.
Abortion supporters argue that any law that allows states to ban abortion pre-viability would essentially gut the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which created a right to an abortion.
The Mobile GOP said that one of the strongest planks in the Republican Party's platform is life for the unborn.
The Supreme Court will hear the Mississippi case to decide whether this law may be upheld fully, partially, or not at all. If parts of this law are upheld by the Supreme Court, it could allow for states to enforce abortion restrictions pre-viability for the first time since the Roe v. Wade decision.
While the oral arguments will be presented on Wednesday, the final decision is not expected until the summer of 2022.
