The reversal of Roe v Wade overturns more laws at the stroke of a pen than any other U.S. Supreme Court ruling in history, says says NIU Assistant Professor of Law Evan Bernick, author of “The Original Meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment: Its Letter and Spirit,” an examination of the Constitutional Amendment at the heart of Roe. Among the topics he can discuss are:
- How striking down Roe will immediately make abortion illegal in more than 20 states
- How the Court’s analysis relies on tradition-based doctrine that has never been defended on originalist grounds.
- How striking down Roe puts same sex marriage, contraception and other rights at risk
As a professor in the Northern Illinois University College of Law who teaches Constitutional law, and the holder of a Master of Divinity, Anita Maddali can speak to diverse aspects of the court’s decision including:
- What the ruling means in terms of a Constitutional right to privacy
- How the decision might impact other cases dealing with sexual autonomy
- How the decision might harm the ability of marginalized groups to obtain or protect rights
- The varying religious views on when life begins and how lack of agreement on this topic makes today’s ruling troubling
NIU Professor of Communication Dr. Kathryn Kady, whose specialties include feminist theory, has studied Roe v Wade in her classes for many years and often encourages the debate on the topic as she teaches rhetoric. Among the topics she can address are:
- Why a woman’s right to an abortion is important
- The potential consequences if Roe v Wade is overturned
- How the leaked decision reveals the partisan nature of the current court
NIU Political Scientist Mitch Pickerill has researched, written about and taught on the history and significance of the Roe v. Wade decision and its impact on politics. He can discuss:
- The history of Roe v Wade and how it became a cornerstone of the Culture Wars
- Why and how the decision is in danger of being overturned now
- The likely political backlash of the decision
