The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion after almost 50 years in a decision that will transform American life, reshape the nation’s politics and lead to all but total bans on the procedure in about half of the states.
"Roe was egregiously wrong from the start,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the majority in the 6-3 decision, one of the most momentous from the court in decades.
Bans in at least seven states swiftly took effect after they enacted laws meant to be enforced immediately after Roe fell. More states are expected to follow in the coming days, reflecting the main holding in the decision: that states are free to end the practice if they choose to do so.