Rep. Mikie Sherrill 'Deeply Disturbed' By Possible End To Roe: What Happens Next?

NORTH JERSEY — Rep. Mikie Sherrill feels "deeply disturbed" about the Supreme Court's potential decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The congresswoman joined the chorus of Democratic politicians in New Jersey expressing outrage over the high court's draft opinion, criticizing Republicans for their role in the potential withdrawal of reproductive rights.

"Our founders were worried about the tyranny of the majority," Sherrill said Tuesday in a statement, "but what we now face is a tyranny of the minority: the extreme right has attacked our voting rights, women’s rights, and continues work to undermine our system of democratic elections. The forthcoming partisan opinion — which includes the votes of three Trump appointed justices — carries out a decades-long attack on this constitutional right and a rollback of law that has been settled for half a century."

The Supreme Court voted to strike down the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, according to a draft majority opinion POLITICO revealed Monday. But justices can change their votes after draft opinions circulate, and the court's holding won't be final until it is published — likely in the next two months.

If the decision holds, more than 20 states have trigger laws in place that would ban abortions in the event of the Supreme Court striking down Roe, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights. (New Jersey is not one of them, as the state enshrined reproductive rights in January.)

"Many of us feared this day would come," Sherrill said of the decision to overturn Roe, "but that does not diminish how deeply disturbed I am today as a woman, a mother, and a lawyer."

Efforts to Codify Abortion Rights

Democratic leaders have expressed support for passing a law to nationally codify abortion rights. But the party has failed to do in the past.

While running for president in 2007, Barack Obama declared, "The first thing I'd do, as president, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act," which would have codified the right to abortions. But in April 2009, President Obama said passage of the act was "not the highest priority."

The Democratic Party briefly held a filibuster-proof supermajority in the Senate in 2009. With only a slight majority in the Senate now — and the possibility of losing House and Senate majorities in November's midterm elections — the party faces a tougher battle in codifying abortion rights.

Democrats will introduce new legislation this week to codify abortion rights. But Sen. Joe Manchin and Senate Republicans voted against a similar bill in February. It remains unknown whether the Senate would take further action in efforts to pass the law. As recently as Tuesday, President Joe Biden said he was "not prepared" to say whether the Senate should remove the filibuster to codify Roe.

Key party leaders also continue to support anti-abortion Democrats. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn have endorsed Rep. Henry Cuellar before his district's runoff election in Texas. Cuellar was the only Democrat in the House to vote against the February bill codifying abortion access. The congressman faces Jessica Cisneros — a pro-choice Democrat — in a May 24 runoff election.

It remains unknown whether or how Democratic leadership will push to codify abortion rights, besides voting on the matter in Congress and pushing for greater majorities from the midterm elections.

Sherrill, who is running for re-election, has voiced support for the right to abortions.

"In Congress, I have been a forceful voice against efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, restrict access to birth control, and efforts to limit safe family planning services," Sherrill says on her campaign website. "I have worked to protect Title X funding so women in New Jersey have access to healthcare."

Following Sherrill's statement about the potential Roe reversal, Patch sent her press office several questions about how she plans to continue her battle for nationwide reproductive rights, and what actions the Democratic Party should take. Patch will update with any response.

Sherrill's Full Statement

Here's Sherrill's full statement on the Supreme Court's draft decision to overturn Roe.

"Like many Americans right now, I am shocked by the Supreme Court’s draft decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The majority of Americans stand behind the reproductive rights enshrined in the landmark 1973 case and reversing it goes against both settled law and the will of the people.

Our founders were worried about the tyranny of the majority, but what we now face is a tyranny of the minority: the extreme right has attacked our voting rights, women’s rights, and continues work to undermine our system of democratic elections. The forthcoming partisan opinion — which includes the votes of three Trump appointed justices — carries out a decades-long attack on this constitutional right and a rollback of law that has been settled for half a century.

Many of us feared this day would come, but that does not diminish how deeply disturbed I am today as a woman, a mother, and a lawyer.

Overturning Roe threatens women’s safety and diminishes their economic future.

I will pledge, along with all Americans who value their rights and personal autonomy, to be resolute in my commitment to stand up and protect our freedoms."

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