Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett Defends Overturning Abortion Rights in Memoir

Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett defends her vote to overturn Roe v. Wade in her forthcoming memoir, arguing that the 1973 ruling usurped the will of the American people and was an exercise of raw judicial power. She contends that abortion has not traditionally been considered a fundamental liberty in American law but was long forbidden, and that the court's role is to respect the choices agreed upon by the people rather than to dictate them. Barrett also reflects on the pragmatic complexities of Supreme Court decision-making, including the need for consensus and the deliberate ambiguity in opinions. Her memoir, titled Listening to the Law and set for release on September 9, avoids revealing internal court deliberations or naming family members to protect privacy. Barrett received a reported $2 million advance for the book, which has attracted attention given her pivotal role in reshaping the court and its rulings on abortion rights. She emphasizes that the moral debate around abortion is complicated and distinct from other rights widely recognized as fundamental.