Schakowsky Disappointed By Supreme Court Decision to Uphold the Ban on Partial Birth Abortion

SCHAKOWSKY DISAPPOINTED BY SUPREME COURT DECISION TO UPHOLD THE BAN ON PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION

WASHINGTON, DC–U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) released the following statement today in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to uphold the nationwide ban on partial birth abortion. President Bush signed the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act into law in 2003, but the law has not yet taken effect because of pending court rulings.

"Today's Supreme Court decision is a major setback for those of us who are committed to protecting a woman's right to choose. The ruling sets a dangerous precedent by banning a critical medical procedure that physicians use to save a woman's life. I am very concerned that today's ruling puts our country on a perilous path toward reversing Roe v. Wade and takes medical decisions out of the hands of doctors.

Regrettably, today's decision represents a dramatic departure from the Court's previous rulings that any abortion restrictions must include an exception safeguarding a woman's health.

This ruling should serve as a warning to all of us that we can no longer take for granted the Supreme Court's position on Roe v. Wade. I agree with Justice Ginsburg that this decision represents a deliberate attempt by the conservatives on the Court to "chip away... at a women's right to choose.

With the retirement of Justice O'Connor and the appointment of two new conservative justices, we have entered a precarious era where Roe v. Wade is more susceptible to being overturned than ever before. Today's decision is further proof that we need to elect a President in 2008 who will nominate justices who will respect and protect our rights and civil liberties....