Attorney General Merrick B. Garland called the Supreme Court’s decision to repeal women’s constitutional right to abortion “a devastating blow to the right to freedom of choice regarding reproduction.” He promises to use the authority of the ministry to protect abortion rights, The New York Times reports.
In a detailed statement, Garland said the decision undermines the custom for the court to respect precedents. That principle has helped to uphold the rule of law by keeping the court’s work consistent and preserving citizens’ confidence in acting as a neutral arbiter.
Garland called on Congress to pass a federal law that protects the right to abortion and, he says, “guarantees women’s ability to participate fully and equally in society.” His plea comes as Republicans, spurred on by the Supreme Court decision, are encouraging state parliaments to ban abortions in every state of the country.
“The Justice Department strongly disagrees with the court’s decision,” Garland said in a statement. “It will have an immediate and irreversible impact on the lives of people across the country. And it will be very disproportionate in its effect, with the greatest burden being felt by people of color and those with limited financial resources.”