The future of abortion access in Minnesota

The landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case known as Roe v. Wade is cited as having made abortion legal in America. And while that’s true, what the decision says is that no state may make laws regulating abortion during the first three months of pregnancy — except to provide that they be done by licensed physicians.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear a case involving Mississippi’s law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks. Because the makeup of America's high court has changed since both the 1973 decision and other challenges, legal experts and court watchers expect Wednesday’s case could lead to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. 

What will this mean for Minnesota? What is our current state law governing abortion? How did we get to where we are, and what might happen if Roe v. Wade is overturned? 

Ahead of the court’s hearing of the Mississippi case, MPR News guest host Chris Farrell spoke with three law professors about the current landscape of abortion rights and access in Minnesota and how that landscape could change.

This show is not about the right or wrong of abortion. It’s about the future of abortion in Minnesota.

Guests: 

• Mary Ziegler is the Stearns Weaver Miller Professor at Florida State University and the author of “Abortion and the Law in America: Roe v. Wade to the Present.” 

• Laura Hermer is a law professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul and the author of the recent article, “Covid-19, Abortion, and Public Health in the Culture Wars.”

• Jill Hasday is a professor of constitutional law, family law and legal history at the University of Minnesota Law School and the author of two books: “Family Law Reimagined” and “Intimate Lies and the Law.” 

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

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