Dear Cornell Law Community,

We write to you today from a place of both sadness and anger as the Supreme Court has released their devastating decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Though the decision is not a surprise, no amount of preparation makes this loss feel smaller and we are all still grieving. As future lawyers, we take up a privileged space in society and it is important that we lift up the voices of the millions who lost, or will soon lose, their right to abortion.

26 states are poised to ban abortion quickly, meaning 36 million women and people who can get pregnant will soon lose access to safe abortions. Abortion bans disproportionately harm people of color and people who do not have the financial resources to travel out of state to receive care. While there have always been barriers to access abortion care, today’s decision means that these hurdles, along with the number of people forced to overcome them, will increase.

Due to the increased burdens on patients accessing abortion care, abortion funds throughout the country will need all the financial support they can get. If you have the resources, please donate to an abortion fund today. If you are able, join a demonstration to show your support for those affected by this decision and make your voice heard.

We look forward to organizing and fighting for/with you all this upcoming semester. If you have any suggestions, questions, or concerns about what we can do as an organization, please submit them here.

Sincerely,

Reese Tintaya and Marie Nercessian
Co-Presidents, If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice

In solidarity with Women’s Law Coalition