Papers: Roe V. Wade Was Almost Overturned

[Khephra]

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court was ready in 1992 to effectively overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing abortion, but Justice Anthony M. Kennedy got cold feet, and the vote went the other way.

Internal notes in the papers of late Justice Harry A. Blackmun provide a glimpse of the secretive dealings that led to the court's ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey that year. Blackmun's extensive records from 24 years on the court were opened Thursday, the fifth anniversary of his death.

Blackmun's paper legacy brought scholars and others to the Library of Congress' vast reading room to rifle through boxes containing the documents.

His voluminous files contain draft after draft of the Casey ruling with his handwritten notes in the margins, sometimes agreeing with other justices and sometimes looking for ways to change their minds. The files also contain memos from Blackmun's law clerks suggesting changes or strategies that might persuade more justices to join his views.

more..........

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-blackmun-papers,0,1994234.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

[lucky777]

1. Scary!

This shows how our civil rights hang by a thin thread. And to think that even the Soviet Union made abortion on demand legal back in the 1930s as a way of ensuring women the right to control their bodies. And here we are in the 21st century, trying to keep this basic right. I blame religion -- that is the ultimate source of hatred against abortion. Dumb religious people, that's who I blame.

[catzies]

2. Welcome to DU, lucky777!

:hi:

Complacency and inaction are not an option in these times!

[ender]

3. abortion was *not* legal in the USSR

seriously, abortion was not legal. however, despite its illegal status, there were many years in which there were more abortions in the USSR than live births.

see: David Remnick, Lenin's Tomb.

[Elidor]

4. Great church sign I saw today:

God wants spiritual fruit
Not religious nuts

[Krakowiak]

5. atheist here

and I don't support abortion, and there are others out there like me. So it's quite a bit more than just "dumb religious people" who have reasons to object to such a practice. And labeling those who come to a different position than you as "dumb", isn't going to do much to narrow the chasm that has opened on this debate.

I'm not going to respond to replies. I've seen how the flame wars can start on this contentious subject, and I don't wish to participate in unproductive quarreling. I just wanted to point out that it's not so black and white to the point where religious beliefs can be blamed for the even divide on abortion.

[newyawker99]

7. Hi Krakowiak!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[zonmoy]

6. Religion is to blame

for every evil in the world.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

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