Bodies
No. 10 | 2022
Gremlin, Photograph; 2021.
Hi
It’s been too long.
I’ve wanted to jump-start this thing for about a year now. No excuses or explanations. It’s time.
Been thinking about a couple of things—guns, choice, the role of the judiciary in dictating the terms of “who gets to be safe.” But today…today is raw. So, I’m staying with Roe Vs. Wade
The Court
Let’s start here.
The Supreme Court is the highest in the Nation for all cases and controversies arising under the Constitution. As the final decider of the law, the Court is charged with ensuring us the promise of equal justice under the law. Basically, they’re the final stop on the Constitutional train. Their interpretations are the mother of all interpretations.
The Court consists of the Chief Justice and “such number of Associate Justices as may be fixed by Congress” (you probably remember the banter about changing the number, to level the playing field, after Trump stacked the courts). The aggregate of Associate Justices is currently fixed at eight. The power to nominate the Justices is vested in the President, and appointments are made with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Associate Justice Stephen Breyer (a reliably liberal vote) announced his retirement earlier this year; US Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is expected to join in the Fall of 2022. Here’s the makeup of the current court:
Data: Martin-Quinn scores; Chart: Axios Visuals
So, the chart demonstrates pretty simply how how Roe v Wade was overturned today. And also how New York’s strict restrictions on carrying concealed firearms in public were struck down this past week.
Trevor Noah recently “joked” that the American Constitution is more important to our lawmakers than are the American human beings the constitution is meant to protect. Yeah. Sigh.
To Dos
Gallup recently polled Americans and concluded that 67% of Americans identify as pro-choice. Even so, when the Supreme Court rules on a constitutional issue, that judgment is virtually final; its decisions can be altered only by the rarely used procedure of constitutional amendment or by a new ruling of the Court.
That said, President Biden urges us “to elect candidates in November who will support abortion rights and broader rights to privacy.” Because “this fall, Roe is on the ballot.” For extra measure, Biden singled out Justice Clarence Thomas’s concurring opinion, in which he opened the door to the court revisiting decisions on contraception and same-sex marriage. Voting is fundamental, basic, and a right that the court cannot take away.
If you want to do more here’re some options.
Show up. If you’re in Portland, get to Salmon Street Springs at 5 PM.
You can also support at Plancpills.org, abortionfunds.org, or OperationsSaveAbortion.com.
And, learn more about Gun Laws in your state at Giffords Law Center.
Bye for Now
Next post soon.
In the meantime, email me at drcarala@gmail.com. Still…SO. MUCH. LOVE.
