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The U.S. Supreme Court is the nation's most powerful court. Although the nine Justices who sit on the Court hear only a fraction of the cases that reach the federal court system, the Court’s decisions set precedent for every court in the nation.
Where the Supreme Court Stands on Choice
Right now, the nine Justices are narrowly divided on issues related to reproductive health: four justices support the constitutional right to choose; four oppose the constitutional right to choose; and one has a mixed record on the right to choose, and has voted to uphold substantial restrictions, including the Federal Abortion Ban.
Key Supreme Court Cases
For more than 30 years, the Supreme Court has issued decisions that affect ordinary Americans' lives – from the use of birth control to women's access to safe, legal abortion care. Click here to learn more about key Supreme Court cases that shaped Americans' reproductive rights.
Recent Supreme Court Cases
On April 18, 2007, the Supreme Court handed down its decision to uphold the Federal Abortion Ban in Gonzales v. Carhart and Gonzales v. Planned Parenthood. This decision shows Bush's appointees have moved the Court in a direction that could further undermine Roe v. Wade and protections for women's health. The door is now open for politicians like George W. Bush to interfere even more in our personal, private medical decisions. The Court has given anti-choice state lawmakers the green light to open the flood gates and launch additional attacks on safe, legal abortion, without any regard for women's health. Click here to learn more.
Nominees to the Supreme Court
President Bush has had the opportunity to replace two vacancies on the Supreme Court, following the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist and the retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
President Bush nominated John Roberts to replace Chief Justice Rehnquist; Roberts was confirmed on September 29, 2005. Bush nominated Harriet Miers to replace Justice O’Connor, but Miers withdrew her nomination on October 27, 2005. Bush then nominated Samuel Alito, who was confirmed on January 31, 2006. | 
