Abortion

Could A GOP Victory In 2012 Mean The End Of Roe v Wade?

Sahil Kapur | January 24, 2012, 5:25AM

Anti-abortion demonstrators in Washington, DC.

The landmark Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade has long been used as a political football, but abortion rights activists warn that it could soon be making a final play.

Sunday, January 22 marked the 39th anniversary of the decision, and more than ever the case's fate could ride on the outcome of a presidential election. Republican presidential candidates have declared that they want to see the ruling reversed -- and the ideological trajectory of the modern Supreme Court is conducive to their goals.

The case was decided 7-2, but the bench is notably more conservative today than 1973. Pro-choice advocates fear that replacing one of the four liberal-leaning justices with a conservative -- not beyond the pale if a Republican defeats President Obama in November -- could potentially result in a 5-4 decision to overturn the lynchpin pro-choice ruling, which would allow states to criminalize all abortions.

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