FBANC Statement on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health

June 24, 2022

Today’s Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health overturns nearly 50 years of precedent protecting women’s right to make decisions regarding their own reproductive health, as set forth in the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.  The Dobbs decision will have lasting consequences on a myriad of rights protected under the Fourteenth Amendment well beyond the rights of individuals in making healthcare choices.  In his concurring opinion in Dobbs, Justice Clarence Thomas has called for the Supreme Court to “reconsider” precedents involving contraceptive and LGBTQ+ rights.  The Dobbs decision and Justice Thomas’ concurrence amount to the rejection of stare decisis, a fundamental legal principle requiring adherence to prior Court decisions in order to promote certainty and uniformity in judicial decisions and to maintain the integrity of the rule of law.  During a time when the American public’s confidence in the Supreme Court is at an all-time low, the Dobbs decision is a severe blow to our legal system.  Moreover, this decision eviscerates the rights of many vulnerable communities, particularly low-income individuals and Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), who already face substantial obstacles and discrimination in the healthcare system. 

As a professional organization committed to promoting human rights, civil liberties, and equity for all, FBANC stands in support of those who seek to maintain the fundamental rights instilled by the Constitution.  FBANC reaffirms its commitment to the protection of reproductive rights and those who rely on those rights.  FBANC encourages our community to continue discussing the impact and implications of the Dobbs decision and to work to protect human rights and civil liberties in furtherance of a more equitable and just society. 

For questions or more information, please contact FBANC Officer-at-Large Janice Reicher janicereicher@fbanc.org, FBANC Director Alyssa Daatio alyssadaatio@fbanc.org, and FBANC Director Riane Briones rianebriones@fbanc.org