MS Delegation and Pro-Life Caucus file brief urging U.S. Supreme Court to uphold MS abortion law

More than 200 Senators, House Members Sign Brief, Say Supreme Court Should Let States Protect Life

Some members of Mississippi’s congressional delegation joined with the House Pre-Life Caucus on Thursday to lead congress in filing an amicus brief that supports the current lawsuit out of Mississippi that pertains to the state’s 15 week abortion ban. The suit, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization is being heard with the U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and U.S. Representatives Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.), Trent Kelly (R-Miss.), and Michael Guest (R-Miss.), along with House Pro-life Caucus Co-Chair Chris Smith (R-N.J.), filed the brief. In total, 44 Senators and 184 members of the House of Representatives signed the brief.

“Mississippi is at the forefront of the fight for life, and I am glad to lead the charge in Congress on behalf of the unborn,” Wicker said. “For too long, the precedents of Roe and Casey have prevented states from taking meaningful steps to protect life in the womb. My colleagues and I are urging the Supreme Court to correct these decades of injustice.”

“In taking up Mississippi’s pro-life law, the Supreme Court has a chance to reconsider the current misguided abortion jurisprudence. As a Senator, as a woman, and as a mother, I think this case offers us a chance to overturn Roe and return the abortion issue to the political process and away from activist judges,” Hyde-Smith said. “I am thankful so many of my colleagues are standing with Mississippi and against unlimited abortion on demand in this case.”

“I am proud to see that Mississippi is leading the nation in the fight to defend the unborn- challenging outdated precedents that strip states of their ability to ban abortion procedures. This case offers a monumental opportunity for the highest court in the land to recognize states’ right to defend the unborn. I stand with my colleagues and urge the Supreme Court to stand up for the countless innocent lives at the heart of this case,” said Palazzo.

“We are pleased to join this important brief. Mississippians believe in the sanctity of life and our values to defend the unborn should be safeguarded,” Kelly said.

“Mississippi remains united in our desire to protect the lives of our unborn children, which is why the Mississippi delegation has come together to support the right to life movement in an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court. This case is a strong step in defending our unborn children and I am thankful for the opportunity to support their right to life,” Guest said.

Lawmakers ask the Court to uphold Mississippi’s law as effectuating important state interests, or, alternatively, return this case to the lower courts for consideration on a full evidentiary record, recognizing that certain precedents [Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey] may be reconsidered and, where necessary, be wholly or partially overruled.

The bill came to pass in Mississippi in 2018. It would prevent an abortion after 15 weeks except in cases of medical emergency.

The Jackson Women’s Health Organization, an abortion clinic in Jackson, Miss., sued on the grounds that the law violates the viability standard established by Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court’s decision on these grounds.

Click here to read the full amicus brief.

In addition to Wicker and Hyde-Smith, Senators signing the amicus brief include:  Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Richard Shelby, (R-Ala.), James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Richard Burr, (R-N.C.), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), James E. Risch (R-Idaho), Roy Blunt, (R-Mo.) Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Joni K. Ernst (R-Iowa), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Cynthia M. Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.).

In addition to the House sponsors, Representatives signing the brief include: Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, (Calif.-23), Robert B. Aderholt (Ala.-04), Rick W. Allen (Ga.-12), Jodey C. Arrington (Texas-19), Kelly Armstrong (N.D.-AL), Brian Babin, D.D.S. (Texas-36), Don Bacon (Neb.-02), James R. Baird (Ind.-04), Troy Balderson (Ohio-12), Jim Banks (Ind.-03), Andy Barr (Ky.-06), Jack Bergman (Mich.-01), Stephanie Bice (Okla.-05), Andy Biggs (Ariz.-05), Gus M. Bilirakis (Fla.-12), Dan Bishop (N.C.-09), Lauren Boebert (Colo.-03), Mike Bost (Ill.-12), Kevin Brady (Texas-08), Mo Brooks (Ala.-05), Ken Buck (Colo.-04), Larry Bucshon, M.D. (Ind.-08), Ted Budd (N.C.-13), Tim Burchett (Tenn.-02), Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (Texas-26), Ken Calvert (Calif.-42), Kat Cammack (Fla.-03), Jerry L. Carl (Ala.-01), Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (Ga.-01), John R. Carter (Texas-31), Steve Chabot (Ohio-01), Liz Cheney (Wyo.-AL), Ben Cline (Va.-06), Michael Cloud (Texas-27), Andrew S. Clyde (Ga.-09), Tom Cole (Okla.-04), James Comer (Ky.-01), Rick Crawford (Ark.-01), Dan Crenshaw (Texas-02), John R. Curtis (Utah-03), Mario Diaz-Balart (Fla.-25), Warren Davidson (Ohio-08), Rodney Davis (Ill.-13), Byron Donalds (Fla.-19), Jeff Duncan (S.C.-03), Neal P. Dunn, M.D. (Fla.-02), Tom Emmer (Minn.-06), Ron Estes (Kan.-04), Pat Fallon (Texas-04), Randy Feenstra (Iowa-04), A. Drew Ferguson IV (Ga.-03), Michelle Fischbach (Minn.-07), Scott Fitzgerald (Wis.-05), Chuck Fleischmann (Tenn.-03), Jeff Fortenberry (Neb.-01), Virginia Foxx (N.C.-05), C. Scott Franklin (Fla.-15), Russ Fulcher (Idaho-01), Mike Gallagher (Wis.-08), Andrew R. Garbarino (N.Y.-02), Mike Garcia (Calif.-25), Bob Gibbs (Ohio-07), Louie Gohmert (Texas-01), Bob Good (Va.-05), Lance Gooden (Texas-05), Tony Gonzales (Texas-23), Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (Ariz.-04), Kay Granger (Texas-12), Garret Graves (La.-06), Sam Graves (Mo.-06), Mark E. Green, M.D. (Tenn.-07), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.-14), H. Morgan Griffith (Va.-09), Glenn Grothman (Wis.-06), Brett Guthrie (Ky.-02), Jim Hagedorn (Minn.-01), Andy Harris, M.D. (Md.-01), Diana Harshbarger (Tenn.-01), Vicky Hartzler (Mo.-04), Kevin Hern (Okla.-01), Yvette Herrell (N.M.-02), Jaime Herrera Beutler (Wash.-03), Jody Hice (Ga.-10), Clay Higgins (La.-03), French Hill (Ark.-02), Ashley Hinson (Iowa-01), Richard Hudson (N.C.-08), Bill Huizenga (Mich.-02), Darrell Issa (Calif.-50), Ronny L. Jackson (Texas-13), Chris Jacobs (N.Y.-27), Bill Johnson (Ohio-06), Dusty Johnson (S.D.-AL), Mike Johnson (La.-04), Jim Jordan (Ohio-04), John Joyce, M.D. (Pa.-13), Fred Keller (Pa.-12), Mike Kelly (Pa.-16), Adam Kinzinger (Ill.-16), Darin LaHood (Ill.-18), Doug LaMalfa (Calif.-01), Doug Lamborn (Colo.-05), Robert E. Latta (Ohio-05), Jake LaTurner (Kan.-02), Debbie Lesko (Ariz.-08), Julia Letlow (La.-05), Billy Long (Mo.-07), Barry Loudermilk (Ga.-11), Frank D. Lucas (Okla.-03), Blaine Luetkemeyer (Mo.-03), Tracey Mann (Kan.-01), Thomas Massie (Ky.-04), Brian Mast (Fla.-18), Lisa McClain (Mich.-10), Tom McClintock (Calif.-04), Patrick McHenry (N.C.-10), David B. McKinley, P.E. (W.Va.-01), Peter Meijer (Mich.-03), Carol D. Miller (W.Va.-03), Mary E. Miller (Ill.-15), Mariannette J. Miller-Meeks (Iowa-02), John R. Moolenaar (Mich.-04), Alex X. Mooney (W.Va.-02), Barry Moore (Ala.-02), Blake Moore (Utah-01), Markwayne Mullin (Okla.-02), Gregory F. Murphy, M.D. (N.C.-03), Troy E. Nehls (Texas-22), Dan Newhouse (Wash.-04), Ralph Norman (S.C.-05), Devin Nunes (Calif.-22), Burgess Owens (Utah-04), Gary Palmer (Ala.-06), Greg Pence (Ind.-06), August Pfluger (Texas-11), Bill Posey (Fla.-08), Guy Reschenthaler (Pa.-14), Tom Rice (S.C.-07), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.-05), Hal Rogers (Ky.-05), Mike D. Rogers (Ala.-03), John Rose (Tenn.-06), Matthew Rosendale, Sr. (Mont.-AL), David Rouzer (N.C.-07), Chip Roy (Texas-21), John H. Rutherford (Fla.-04), Steve Scalise (La.-01), Austin Scott (Ga.-08), Pete Sessions (Texas-17), Adrian Smith (Neb.E-03), Jason Smith (Mo.-08), Lloyd Smucker (Pa.-11), Victoria Spartz (Ind.-05), Pete Stauber (Minn.-08), Michelle Steel (Calif.-48), Elise Stefanik (N.Y.-21), Bryan Steil (Wis.-01), W. Gregory Steube (Fla.-17), Chris Stewart (Utah-02), Van Taylor (Texas-03), Claudia Tenney (N.Y.-22), Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (Pa.-15), Tom Tiffany (Wis.-07), William R. Timmons IV (S.C.-04), Michael R. Turner (Ohio-10), David G. Valadao (Calif.-21), Beth Van Duyne (Texas-24), Ann Wagner (Mo.-02), Tim Walberg (Mich.-07), Jackie Walorski (Ind.-02), Michael Waltz (Fla.-06), Randy K. Weber (Texas-14), Daniel Webster (Fla.-11), Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (Ohio-02), Bruce Westerman (Ark.-04), Roger Williams (Texas-25), Joe Wilson (S.C.-02), Robert J. Wittman (Va.-01), Steve Womack (Ark.-03), and Lee Zeldin (N.Y.-01).