Many states already ban or restrict abortions, while others will introduce new rules within the month.
The Supreme Court’s decision was made possible by an encouraged right-wing court, including three Donald Trump employees.
So who are the Supreme Court Judges and what are their political tendencies?
John G Roberts, Jr., Chief Justice of the United States
The 17ste Chief Justice John G Roberts was appointed by George W Bush in 2005 as the most senior member of the United States Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Roberts, 67, has an unpredictable reputation.
A member of the court’s conservative right, is known to separate from the views of his conservative counterparts – and is not officially registered as a Republican voter.
Although he no longer has the swaying voice, the leader in a narrow majority of conservative panels has found his soft power in majority votes on narrow decisions, such as the Affordable Care Act.
Clarence Thomas, co-judge
Clarence Thomas was anointed in 1991 by the first President Bush as the second black justice (after Thurgood Marshall).
After surviving a relentless confirmation battle and demands of sexual harassment from his former assistant Anita Hill, which according to a police investigation is “unfounded” and which Thomas vehemently denied, Thomas was the longest-serving justice – serving 30 years in Celebrated 2021.
Thomas, known for his stoic approach to verbal debates, kept his opinion quiet – yet predictable with an infallible conservative past.
Despite this gloomy face in court, the 73-year-old is “widely worshiped”, wrote legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin in 2007.
His important contributions include assisting his conservative colleagues in matters of arms control, campaign funding and religious freedom.
Stephen G. Breyer, Co-Judge
Co-Judge Stephen Breyer announced his retirement in January 2022, after 27 years in court.
His replacement Judge Kentaji Brown Jackson will be sworn in as the first black woman in the Supreme Court, following his resignation at the end of the court’s term – although her liberal mindset is not expected to sway the majority.
Bill Clinton nominated Breyer, 83, in 1994 after his work in the U.S. Court of Appeals and the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Moderate justice has made its mark by satisfying both sides with a sensitive approach to the real impact of judicial decisions.
Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Co-Judge
Far from being an ideologue, co-judge Samuel Alito, 72, bordered on conservative and libertarian ideas in his case-by-case approach.
His empathic style seems to be limited to those he can identify with, with the previously leaked draft opinion presumably written by Alito, reported by Politico, to defeat Roe v Wade and make abortions in 22 states illegal.
Born in New Jersey, I graduated in law from Princeton University and Yale Law School.
President George W Bush has chosen Alito to replace Judge Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman on the SCOTUS, in 2005.
Sonia Sotomayor, co-judge
Sonia Sotomayor, 67, is no stranger to difference, as only the third woman to hold the Associate Justice position.
Sotomayor preceded her role in the Supreme Court as the youngest judge in the Southern District and the first Spanish federal judge in the state of New York.
She was the first Puerto Rican woman to serve as a judge in a U.S. federal court.
Sotomayor, who was nominated by President Obama in 2009, became famous for her decision that “saved” Major League Baseball, in a decision to remove the salary cap and end a strike before the season began.
Sharp justice has openly expressed her liberal views in her six years in her seat.
Elena Kagan, co-judge
Elena Kagan (62) sits on the court’s liberal wing as the 100ste Associate Justice, nominated in 2012 by President Obama.
After her Harvard Law School education, Kagan boosted her credentials by working for Thurgood Marshall.
Kagan offered a new perspective with her lack of judicial experience and as the youngest sitting justice at the time.
Kagan sat down with Ginsburg and Sotomayor and made three female judges on the court for the first time in history.
The apparently avid Marvel fan, as evidenced by her Spiderman references in Kimble v Marvel Entertainment, sits on the liberal wing – and has developed her opinion on same-sex marriage since her confirmation.
Neil M. Gorsuch, Co-Judge
The constitutional original Meil Gorsuch (54) took his place in 2017.
His approach to legal texts is taken from the literal meaning of words, as opposed to the intention of the author or the context.
Nominated by Donald Trump, his advocacy for religious tolerance stood strong, protecting popular and “unpopular religious beliefs,” he said in Burwell v Hobby Lobby, where a Christian couple refused to sell drugs or devices that were a can take life.
Brett M. Kavanaugh, Co-Judge 57
Brett Kavanaugh came to court in 2018 after his sharp affirmation dominated by the objection of sexual harassment and bias.
Kavanaugh, 57,’s first crackdown on the U.S. Court of Appeals in 2003 was blocked by Democratic senators who accused him of being too biased.
In 2006, Bush re-nominated him and he was confirmed by a 57-36 vote.
Judge Kavanaugh sat on the DC circuit with a Conservative record until his nomination by President Trump in 2018.
Amy Coney Barrett, co-judge
Amy Coney Barrett, anointed by Donald Trump in October 2020, forms the last member of the six-three Conservative advantage as the most recent seat.
Since the 50-year-old’s arrival, Chief Justice Roberts has not been required to obtain a five-vote majority.
Barrett replaced the infamous judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, following the latter’s death from pancreatic cancer.