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NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday night that she is "horrified" that, according to a leaked document, the Supreme Court plans to overturn the landmark 1973 case Roe v. Wade.
Politico on Monday published a draft opinion circulated among Supreme Court justices that suggests a majority of them support overturning the case, which legalized abortion nationwide. It is unclear if the draft represents the court’s final word on the matter.
Shortly after Politico's report broke, Hochul released a statement. "I am horrified by the apparent draft Supreme Court opinion leaked this evening that would overturn the right to abortion guaranteed by Roe v. Wade," she said. "For the sake of women across the country, this should not be the Supreme Court's final opinion when it comes to abortion rights."
Hochul, who announced on Sunday night the birth of her first granddaughter, added, "We have been fighting this battle for too long. I refuse to go backwards. I refuse to let my new granddaughter have to fight for the rights generations have fought for and won, rights that she should be guaranteed."
The draft opinion basically states there is no constitutional right to abortion services and would allow states to more heavily regulate or outright ban the procedure.
The draft opinion in the Politico report is signed by Justice Samuel Alito, a member of the court's 6-3 conservative majority.
"We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled,” the draft opinion reads, referring to the 1992 case Planned Parenthood v. Casey that affirmed Roe’s finding of a constitutional right to abortion services but allowed states to place some constraints on the practice. "It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives."
And Hochul had a message to women in other jurisdictions: "For anyone who needs access to care, our state will welcome you with open arms," she said. "New York will always be a place where abortion rights are protected and where abortion is safe and accessible. Just as the Statue of Liberty lifts her lamp tall in our harbor, New York will never stop fighting for what's right — unafraid and undeterred."
Mayor Eric Adams tweeted that the city is “ready to fight like hell.”
“New York City knows that a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions is hers and hers alone,” Adams wrote. “This potential assault on their freedom by right wing extremists cannot stand.”
Gov. Phil Murphy also responded to the leak of the draft decision, tweeting that it’s a “truly dark day in America.”
“This year, I signed the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act – codifying a woman's right to choose into state law. New Jersey will not go backwards on reproductive rights,” the governor wrote.
“I want to assure every New Jerseyan that today’s news about the Supreme Court does not change access to abortion in our state,” Murphy continued. “Access to reproductive health care remains available to anyone who needs it in New Jersey.”
Gov. Ned Lamont tweeted as well, writing that Connecticut “continues to take steps necessary to protect and expand reproductive rights.”
“Tonight, [Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz] and I say it louder and with more resolve than ever before, we will do everything in our power to defend abortion rights in Connecticut,” Lamont wrote.
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