Tennessee elected officials’ reactions fell on predictable party lines to news of a draft ruling from the Supreme Court that would reverse the country’s landmark abortion law.
More: What would happen in Tennessee if the Supreme Court overturns abortion law?
In public statements, Tennessee Republicans like Gov. Bill Lee and Sen. Marsha Blackburn reiterated their opposition to abortion. But they focused more on the person who leaked the ruling, than the ruling itself.
I am concerned by the leak & any attempt to thwart justice. If the federal courts return full authority to the states, TN’s laws will automatically provide the maximum possible protection & offer a glimmer of redemption as America reconciles our troubled past.
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) May 3, 2022
Blackburn tweeted that the person who shared the ruling with Politico broke the “sacred tradition of the court.”
I have no doubt that the Chief Justice will work to root out the radical activist that betrayed the sacred tradition of the court. The leaker must be immediately removed from their position and exiled from the legal community.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) May 3, 2022
But across the aisle, state Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, says the focus should be on the content of the draft ruling.
1. The leak ain’t what really matters here. The elimination of the right is.
2. Seems just as likely leak came from an Alito ally to box the conservatives into fully gutting Roe (“don’t be the next Souter”).
3. If👆is right, many folks blathering about norms today won’t notice.
— Jeff Yarbro (@yarbro) May 3, 2022
The Tennessee Democratic Party as a whole called on Congress to protect abortion rights.
You can't ban abortions — you can only ban safe abortions.
Working-class people will be the ones who suffer most if Roe v. Wade is overturned.
It's past time to codify Roe into law at the federal level. Tennesseans can't wait.
— Tennessee Democratic Party (@tndp) May 3, 2022
State Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, tweeted that she feared “this is only the beginning of an all-out assault on the rights and freedoms we hold dear.” She calls it an unimaginable step backwards.
I fear this is only the beginning of an all out assault on the rights and freedoms we hold dear. And in states like Tennessee there are trigger laws that automatically ban abortion if Roe is overturned. This is an unimaginable step backwards in women and reproductive rights. https://t.co/k5g0N4MzmT
— Senator Raumesh Akbari (@SenAkbari) May 3, 2022
Republican Attorney General Herbert Slatery says although his office is vested in the outcome, the draft ruling is exactly that — and could still undergo changes before being released.
“While we have a vested interest in the outcome of Dobbs in Tennessee, we will let the Supreme Court speak for itself,” Slatery wrote. “This leak is more than regrettable, it is an affront to the integrity of our legal process at the highest level.”
A couple days later, Gov. Lee said Thursday that the state has worked with organizations to bolster assistance for women in crisis.
“There’s a way forward to protect the lives of the unborn and to provide support and assistance for women going forward. We’ve strengthened our foster care family system and the adoption process in our state. I think that’s the way we take our existing law and support women.”
More: Nashville women share their abortion stories at a rally against impending Tennessee ban
The official ruling is expected to come out later this year. If it overturns Roe v. Wade, Tennessee’s 2019 abortion law would not take effect until the Tennessee Attorney General concludes that the decision triggers the law. If it does, abortions would only be allowed in instances where the pregnancy endangers the life of the mother.
This story has been updated to include a more recent quote from Gov. Lee and further context about how a trigger law could work in Tennessee.
This Is Nashville plans to follow up on this issue in the coming weeks. And we want to hear from you about your questions on abortion access in Tennessee. Leave us a voice message at ThisIsNashville.org.
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