Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization: The New Reproductive Health Landscape

On Friday, June 24^th, 2022, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the U.S. Supreme Court held that there is no constitutional right to abortion, overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Justice Alito, joined by Justices Thomas, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett, concluded that abortion is neither mentioned in the Constitution’s text, nor is it a liberty interest rooted in the United States’ history or traditions sufficient to establish it as a fundamental right. The decision’s language has clear potential impacts for other non-textual constitutional rights, including generalized rights to privacy. Moreover, the decision’s public health impacts are profound: in the wake of the decision, states across the country rushed to immediately ban or severely restrict abortion and related reproductive health care access.

In this webinar, presenters will provide an overview of the Dobbs decision and its legal impacts. Presenters will also discuss current legal challenges launched to protect reproductive health care, including arguments embedded in state constitutional guarantees or federal preemption. Presenters will then highlight swift and decisive actions taken by several state legislative and executive branches to preserve and protect reproductive health.

By attending this webinar, you will:

• understand the outcome and major themes revealed by the Dobbs decision, as well as potential impacts on additional constitutional rights;
• learn about alternate key legal challenges to preserve abortion access, including challenges based in state constitutional language and federal preemption; and
• find out about current and emerging state-based actions designed to preserve and promote reproductive health.

Moderator:

• Summer Ghaith, J.D./M.D. Candidate and Legal Researcher

Presenters:

• Jennifer L. Piatt, J.D., Deputy Director, Network for Public Health Law—Western Region Office
• Erica N. White, J.D., Staff Attorney, Network for Public Health Law—Western Region Office

Attendees may qualify for continuing legal education (CLE) credits. ASLME is an approved provider of CLEs in several states, and will also apply for CLE credits in other states upon request. An email from ASLME regarding CLE credits will be sent to attendees following the webinar.