Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/21pdf/19-1392_6j37.pdf/19-1392_6j37.pdf
Page Number: 124

Cite as:  597 U. S. ____ (2022) 

1 

KAVANAUGH, J., concurring 

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 

_________________ 

No. 19–1392 
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THOMAS E. DOBBS, STATE HEALTH OFFICER OF 
THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, 
ET AL., PETITIONERS v. JACKSON WOMEN’S 
HEALTH ORGANIZATION, ET AL. 

ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF 
APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT 

[June 24, 2022] 

JUSTICE KAVANAUGH, concurring. 
I write separately to explain my additional views about 
why Roe was wrongly decided, why Roe should be overruled 
at this time, and the future implications of today’s decision. 

I 

Abortion  is  a  profoundly  difficult  and  contentious  issue 
because  it  presents  an  irreconcilable  conflict  between  the
interests of a pregnant woman who seeks an abortion and 
the interests in protecting fetal life.  The interests on both 
sides of the abortion issue are extraordinarily weighty. 

On the one side, many pro-choice advocates forcefully ar-
gue  that  the  ability  to  obtain  an  abortion  is  critically  im-
portant for women’s personal and professional lives, and for 
women’s health.  They contend that the widespread availa-
bility of abortion has been essential for women to advance 
in society and to achieve greater equality over the last 50 
years.  And they maintain that women must have the free-
dom to choose for themselves whether to have an abortion. 
On the other side, many pro-life advocates forcefully ar-
gue that a fetus is a human life.  They contend that all hu-
man life should be protected as a matter of human dignity