COLUMBUS, Ohio — A group of attorneys general including Ohio's Dave Yost has asked the United States Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade.

The move is drawing strong reactions on both sides of the issue of abortion in the state.


What You Need To Know

  • Ohio's Dave Yost and a group of attorneys general have asked the United States Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade

  • The attorneys general filed a brief backing Mississippi's ban on most abortions after 15 weeks

  • Ohio Right to Life President Michael Gonidakis said this could spell the end for Roe v. Wade which would not make abortion illegal

  • NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Deputy Director Jaime Miracle said Yost's actions and the potential passing of a 'Trigger Bill' are not what the majority of Ohioans want

In his decision to join 23 other Republican attorneys general in asking the nation's highest court to reverse its landmark abortion decision, Yost, R-Ohio, said: "The Court is unable to explain the constitutional source of a right to abortion, or even a consistent legal standard for determining when it is violated by a state law. ​It's time to end this failed experiment in judicial law-making and return the matter to the states."

The attorneys general filed a brief backing Mississippi's ban on most abortions after 15 weeks.

"We're grateful that pro-life Attorney General Dave Yost participated with this brief. At no point in our nation's history do we believe that we have a United States Supreme Court as pro-life as this one is," said Ohio Right to Life President Michael Gonidakis.

Gonidakis said this could spell the end for Roe v. Wade which would not make abortion illegal but would give Ohio the chance to make that move.

"We have a bill right now in the General Assembly called a 'Trigger Bill' and we want to get that on the books now because we can't guarantee we're always going to have a pro-life governor and pro-life legislature. What a 'Trigger Bill' will do, it says specifically, 'When Roe (v. Wade) is overturned, the law in Ohio automatically will be abortion-free," Gonidakis said.

"It's not Dave Yost's position or anyone else's to tell an individual whether or not they should have access to abortion care," said NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Deputy Director Jaime Miracle.

Miracle believes Yost's actions and the potential passing of a 'Trigger Bill' are not what the majority of Ohioans want to come to fruition.

When asked if she thinks the fact that the United States Supreme Court currently leans conservative could mean the end for Roe v. Wade, Miracle replied: "I think it is definitely the most significant risk that we have had for a very long time. But our message to Ohioans today and every day is abortion is still legal in the state of Ohio. They are still clinics open in our state ready to provide you with the care that you need and we and our allies will be fighting here on the ground each and every day to make sure that stays a reality."

Ohio already has laws banning abortion if a fetal heartbeat is detected and if a Down Syndrome diagnosis is discovered, but they are being held up in court, hence the anticipation or lack thereof for a 'Trigger Bill.'

The U.S. Supreme Court has said it will hear the case next year, which is when justices could decide the future of abortion rights in America.