Mississippi News
Report: SCOTUS will overturn Roe v. Wade in Mississippi abortion case
Report: U.S. Supreme Court will overturn Roe v. Wade in Mississippi abortion case
The U.S. Supreme Court has voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, likely ending the right to abortion in the United States and all but ensuring that the procedure becomes illegal in Mississippi and many other states, Politico reported Monday night.
Politico obtained a draft majority opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito and labeled “Opinion of the Court,” in which the justices sided with the state of Mississippi in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.
“We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled,” Alito writes in the draft document, referring to the 1992 case that mostly upheld the right to abortion. “It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people's elected representatives.”
In a statement, the Mississippi Attorney General's Office, which argued the state's position before the Supreme Court, said the Politico report and the opinion to which it linked could not be verified.
“We will let the Supreme Court speak for itself and wait for the Court's official opinion,” Attorney General Lynn Fitch said.
The Court's opinion on the case was widely expected to come in June. The document obtained by Politico is a draft that could change before the Court's final ruling. The leak of the document is the first time in modern history that a Court opinion has become public before it issues its ruling, Politico reported.
If ultimately adopted by the Court, the ruling would overturn a 49-year-old precedent, arguing that the 7-2 decision in 1973 was “egregiously wrong from the start.”
Mississippi is one of several states with “trigger laws” that will automatically ban abortion, with few exceptions, if the Court overturns Roe.
The Washington, D.C.-based news organization reported that during an initial vote on the case after oral arguments in December, Alito was joined by conservative justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas. The alignment could change before the opinion is finalized, and justices often make multiple rounds of revisions before releasing a ruling.
Politico reported that the three Democratic-appointed justices, Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, are working on one or more draft dissent opinions.
The publication reported that the position of Chief Justice John Roberts, who has shown more reticence than his fellow Republican appointees to overturn past rulings on abortion, is unclear.
The case stems from a 2018 Mississippi law banning abortions after 15 weeks. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit struck down the law, finding that it ran afoul of the right to an abortion before fetal viability. Mississippi appealed that decision, and the Supreme Court announced it would hear the case in May 2021.
During oral arguments in December, Mississippians on both sides of the issue rallied in Jackson.
At downtown Jackson's Smith Park, the “Abortion Freedom Fighters” rally drew about 100 people.
“Mississippi has always been counted out, but today we showed not just the Supreme Court but the governor — we've shown people that we are not going to let y'all make decisions on our bodies,” said Valencia Robinson, CEO and founder of Mississippi in Action. “Women, pregnant people, nobody. Because if you're taking one right away, you're going to start trying to take other rights away.”
Outside the abortion clinic at the center of the Supreme Court case – the only such clinic in the state – the “Pink House defenders” were guarding the parking lot as they do every day. About 40 anti-abortion protesters prayed, their mouths covered in red tape printed with the word “Life.”
“God almighty visited you and gave you a baby. Will you save it today? Will you love it?” said Coleman Boyd, a regular protester at the clinic.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Pedestrian hit, killed by Peterbilt in Claiborne County
SUMMARY: A pedestrian was killed in Claiborne County after being hit by a 2005 Peterbilt on U.S. 61 north of Port Gibson. The victim, 29-year-old Todd Johnson, died at the scene. The driver of the Peterbilt was not injured in the crash. The incident occurred just before 3:30 a.m. on April 22, as the vehicle was traveling northbound. The Mississippi Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
The post Pedestrian hit, killed by Peterbilt in Claiborne County appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
MS man assaults officers at Morgan Wallen concert
SUMMARY: During the Morgan Wallen concert in Oxford, Mississippi, a man named Hunter Flanagan was arrested for assaulting another concertgoer. Flanagan became combative with police officers during his arrest, kicking and spitting on them. He was charged with simple assault on a police officer by both the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office and the University of Mississippi Police Department. Flanagan appeared before a judge and his bond was set at $100,000. He is currently being held at the Lafayette County Detention Center awaiting bond.
The post MS man assaults officers at Morgan Wallen concert appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
New Tactical Gear Funded by Grant
SUMMARY: Macon Police Chief Davine Beck recently purchased 10 new tactical vests for his department with a grant, valued at over $2,000. The vests are custom-fit, lightweight, and user-friendly, allowing officers to carry essential equipment conveniently. Investigator Kayla Duck-Hill praised the vests for their durability and storage capacity. Beck plans to further equip his department with 12 body cameras and two additional patrol vehicles in the coming year. Small departments like Macon rely on grants for funding, as they have limited budgets compared to larger departments. The new equipment will enhance the department's ability to serve and protect the community effectively.
The post New Tactical Gear Funded by Grant appeared first on www.wcbi.com
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