The Attorney General's Office of Mississippi is preparing to file a brief for the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health case that is expected to go before the Supreme Court in November. Abortion rights supporters say this type of legislation is an attempt to challenge the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision. Governor Tate Reeves says he supports the overturning of Roe v. Wade, however, he says the case going before the supreme court will not do that.
“Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973. When you look at this particular case, it is about the court reviewing Roe v. Wade and recognizing that over that nearly 50 years the science has changed,” says Reeves.
Lawmakers in Mississippi routinely pass laws that restrict abortion access, and abortion rights advocates often challenge the constitutionality of these laws. District 92 Representative Becky Currie of Brookhaven authored the Gestational Age Act that was signed into law in 2018. She says she didn't expect the case to go before the Supreme Court but hopes it will allow states to regain control over abortion law.
“It’s our constitutional right to decide what’s best for our state, and we can’t let a few people in Washington make those decisions,” says Rep. Currie. “We are here living in the state, we know how the majority of the people feel. And I think it’s something that should be looked at state to state.”
Abortion rights advocates say if the Supreme Court sides in favor of the State of Mississippi, it could allow more states to pass further restrictions on abortions and reproductive health.
