“The draft opinion goes against our Association’s mission to promote respect for the rule of law.”
Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Wesley R. Payne IV issued the following statement regarding a draft opinion by the Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. If made final, the draft opinion would overturn Roe v. Wade. The Court has confirmed the authenticity of the draft opinion, which was leaked to the public earlier this week, but noted that it is not final:
“Echoing an American Bar Association amicus brief to the Court regarding Dobbs v. Jackson, the Philadelphia Bar Association believes that a foundational commitment to stare decisis, or adherence to precedent, is ‘critical to the stability of our legal system and public confidence in the judiciary,’” Payne said.
“Absent extraordinary circumstances, citizens have the right to expect consistency in the way that the law is applied in the United States,” Payne continued. “Rarely has the Supreme Court decided to strip away a right that has been recognized for decades. We believe this draft opinion, if made final, would create a dangerous and slippery slope that could undermine confidence in our court system. As such, the draft opinion goes against our Association’s mission to promote respect for the rule of law.”
