On a 5-4 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court just upheld a federal law banning partial-birth abortion.  It is a procedure where the baby is partially delivered, and then the skull is crushed to abort the birth.  To understand how gruesome it is, you should read about it.

The Court did not strike down all late abortions, and women can still have abortions where the baby is dismembered in the uterus and then extracted.  Opponents of abortion say this will not reduce the total number of abortions, it will just change the method.  Abortion advocates fear this is the first step in the federal and state governments moving to regulate, and thus limit, abortions.

The case is legally and politically significant in that it shows the importance of judicial nominees.  Both of President Bush's recent appointments--Roberts and Alito--voted with the majority.  They joined Kennedy, Scalia, and Thomas.  Just a few years ago a very similar law was struck down by the Court in Stenberg v. Carhart.  But the recent additions to the Court resulted in a changed position; 4-5 has become 5-4. 

Now in the minority, Justice Ginsberg wrote "Today's decision is alarming,"  in that it "refuses to take ... seriously" the Supreme Court's past decisions on abortion.  Good. 

Read on HERE.

Thomas More