By Sarah Terzo

Edward Lazarus — Former clerk to Harry Blackmun, the author of Roe V. Wade:

“As a matter of constitutional interpretation and judicial method, Roe borders on the indefensible. I say this as someone utterly committed to the right to choose, as someone who believes such a right has grounding elsewhere in the Constitution instead of where Roe placed it, and as someone who loved Roe’s author like a grandfather….

Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun

“What, exactly, is the problem with Roe? The problem, I believe, is that it has little connection to the Constitutional right it purportedly interpreted. A constitutional right to privacy broad enough to include abortion has no meaningful foundation in constitutional text, history, or precedent ­- at least, it does not if those sources are fairly described and reasonably faithfully followed.”

“The Lingering Problems with Roe v. Wade, and Why the Recent Senate Hearings on Michael McConnell’s Nomination Only Underlined Them,” FindLaw Legal Commentary, Oct. 3, 2002, as quoted in Timothy P. Carney “In criticizing Roe, Sessions aligns with most legal scholars.” Washington Examiner 1/10/17.

Editor’s note. This appeared at Clinic Quotes and is reposted with permission.