STATEHOUSE (Aug. 3, 2021) — State Sen. Liz Brown (R-Fort Wayne) joined 78 pro-life women state legislators from 45 states on an Amicus Brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold Mississippi’s state law protecting life after 15 weeks of gestation.
The brief, filed last week with the Supreme Court, recognizes that women play a significantly bigger role in state policymaking than they did when Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973. The brief urges the Supreme Court to return abortion policy to the states.
The brief reads in part, “The vast statistical differences between women serving in state legislatures in the 1970s and now show how far the nation has come in recognizing women’s valuable contributions to lawmaking. Those differences also highlight why this court—no longer composed entirely of men—can and should show greater deference to the outcomes of state legislative processes on the issue of abortion. Women are better represented now than at any time in our country’s history and, although abortion is far from being solely a women’s issue, the increase in women’s voices and perspectives guarantees that, as legislatures across the country debate the issue, women’s concerns will not be ignored or minimized like they might have been when Roe v. Wade was decided.”
“Indiana, like Mississippi, has valid interests in setting policies related to women’s health and protecting unborn life,” Brown said. “I am proud to have my name on the Susan B. Anthony List's Amicus Brief before the U.S. Supreme Court because it’s time to return abortion policymaking to state legislatures.
“Culture and medicine are vastly different now compared to when Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973. I saw changes to viability norms and the prevalence of ultrasounds when I gave birth to my seven children in the 80’s and 90’s. Now, in 2021, the court must confront the fact that Roe is based on outdated science. It’s time we give the valuable elected voices in state legislatures the option to pass laws to protect women and promote life.”
In May, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear Mississippi’s case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, over a 15-week limit on abortions in the state of Mississippi. Arguments are expected in the fall, with a decision coming in late spring or early summer 2022.
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