Since it was decided 32 years ago, Roe v. Wade has been under constant attack. The 2005 anniversary, on January 22nd, arrives alongside the looming possibility of one to three new U.S. Supreme Court justices in the next few years.

While the 1973 Supreme Court decision currently provides women with the constitutionally protected right to choose whether or not to terminate a pregnancy, the high Court is closely divided on the issue, as evidenced by recent rulings. Any changes in the Court’s makeup could shift the current balance. Should those changes occur and Roe is, in fact, overruled, abortion would likely become a state law issue.

According to a new study published by the Center for Reproductive Rights, What If Roe Fell?, if the U.S. Supreme Court were to overturn Roe v. Wade today, millions of women in 30 states could lose their right to choose abortion within a year’s time, some in just a matter of weeks.

In light of the increasing threats to Roe, Nancy Northup, President of the Center for Reproductive Rights stated, "We need Supreme Court justices who reflect the values most Americans share — the right to choose and the right to privacy. It is critically important that the government respect these widely-held values. Therefore, the core principles that should guide the assessment of any nominee to the courts must include fairness, responsibility, and openness."

Read the report What If Roe Fell? online for free (PDF).

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