The US Supreme Court was hearing arguments Wednesday on a Mississippi abortion ban which many see as a case that could cut back on or revoke the Roe versus Wade decision allowing abortions across the country. New York’s own abortion legislation would be unaffected if the landmark 1973 decision is ultimately overturned, says a UB expert.
Lucinda Finley, the Frank G. Raichle professor at the University at Buffalo School of Law, says what differs is that Roe v. Wade is a court decision, while New York’s legal access to abortion is a law.
“The Supreme Court case that's being argued is about whether states that want to be more restrictive than New York are allowed to be more restrictive than New York,” she said. “It will have no impact on states that want to keep widespread access to abortion.”
Finley explains that under New York’s law, dating back to 1970, there are no restrictions on access to abortion up to the point of viability in a pregnancy. At post-viability, an abortion can be performed only if necessary to preserve the life or health of the woman.
The only way abortion could be outlawed in New York is through a nationwide ban passed in Washington. That would require Republicans to take both houses of Congress and the White House and to abolish the filibuster in the Senate, and then pass a law.
When New York’s legislation was enacted, many women traveled to the Empire State to have a medical abortion. Restrictions in states including Mississippi and Texas, Finley suggests, have led to a new round of travel to this state.
If Roe v. Wade is overturned, more states may seek restrictions or an outright ban on abortions, but barring federal legislation, New York is expected to stand put with its law.
“New York has already chosen to permit all abortions up to the point of viability,” she said.
