News

By Meg Jalsevac

WASHINGTON, October 11, 2006 (LifeSiteNews) – Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court rejected Sandra Cano, ‘Doe’ in the controversial 1973 Doe v. Bolton case, and her bid to have the controversial abortion case reheard.Â

Doe v. Bolton was decided on January 22, 1973 – the same day as Roe v. Wade, the first landmark abortion case of the United States. Roe allowed for abortion in the first trimester based on a constitutional right to privacy. The Doe case took it a step farther implementing an undefined medical exception – ultimately allowing for abortion up until the moment of birth if necessary for the health of the mother.Â

With the assistance of The Justice Foundation attorneys, Cano appealed the case on the grounds that the case was based on fraud and she never wanted an abortion. She argues that she was unknowingly manipulated by her mother and her ACLU lawyer, Margie Pitts Hames. Ms. Cano was 22 at the time of the court case and had sought legal assistance to file for divorce from her abusive husband while pregnant with her fourth child.Â

Norma McCorvey, ‘Roe’ of Roe v. Wade, appealed the decision of her case in 2003 on similar grounds. The Supreme Court also rejected her appeal.Â

Yesterday’s Supreme Court rejection is particularly sad for pro-lifers. Since the rejection of McCorvey’s appeal, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor has stepped down and been replaced with more conservative Justice Samuel Alito. Pro-lifers had been holding out hope that with the addition to the bench of Justice Alito the federal abortion case would be overturned and the abortion decision would be returned to the individual states.Â

For the case to have been heard, it would have to be granted ‘certiorari’. That is, after reviewing the facts and documentation, four out of nine of the justices would have had to vote to hear the case. The Supreme Court did not have any comment on the case or explain their reasons for rejecting it.ÂÂÂÂ

Read Related LifeSite Coverage:

US Supreme Court to Consider Petition to Reverse Abortion Law Roe v Wade on February 18
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/feb/05021504.html

US Supreme Court to Revisit Landmark Abortion Case Next Week
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/sep/06092810.html