Supreme Court Confirms That Leaked Abortion Opinion Draft Is Legitimate

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images)
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The leaked opinion showing a majority of Supreme Court justices voting to overturn abortion rights is legitimate, according to the public information officer of the Supreme Court.

“Although the document described in yesterday’s reports is authentic, it does not represent a decision by the Court or the final position of any member on the issues in the case,” Court spokesperson Patricia McCabe said.

Below the official court statement, Chief Justice John Roberts said in a statement that he has directed the Marshal of the Court to investigate the source of the leak.

The draft was obtained by Politico and published Monday evening. The outlet reported that the opinion was written by Justice Samuel Alito, who was joined by Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch when they voted in conference after oral arguments in December.

Read the statements here:

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  1. Someone in the majority leaked. So to lock in the votes to overturn Roe and so to lessen the blowback and hope people forget as we get closer to the midterms.

  2. What’s the level of concern from Susan collins? That’s the real question.

  3. You mean Susan “settled law” Collins? That fucking lying piece of shit?

  4. Avatar for jinnj jinnj says:

    OMG what an ASSHOLE … Senate Minority Leader with years of experience in the Senate just can’t have any dignity in a crisis … what a dick - has to instantly try to harvest leverage

    McConnell Calls Abortion Opinion Leak An ‘Attack’ On Supreme Court By The ‘Radical Left’

    if a lightening bolt hit him and turned him to a cinder - we would all be entitled to rejoice!

  5. I suspect it was leaked for the opposite reason: to generate pressure to influence or prevent this from being formalized. And it seems to have at least made an impact. Note the spokesperson’s response:

    Although the document described in yesterday’s reports is authentic, it does not represent a decision by the Court or the final position of any member on the issues in the case,” Court spokesperson Patricia McCabe said.

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