Lubbock lawmakers encouraged by leaked Supreme Court abortion opinion on Roe v. Wade

State and federal leaders from the South Plains on Tuesday said they were encouraged by a leaked draft opinion of a potential U.S. Supreme Court decision that could overturn the nearly 50-year-old ruling establishing abortion rights across the county.

Nearly all abortions would be outlawed in Texas if the U.S. Supreme Court decides to overturn Roe v. Wade - its landmark decision that established a constitutional right to abortion, according to USA Today reporting.

It's a move that State Rep. Dustin Burrows said could be expedited later this year in Texas thanks in part to groundwork that voters in Lubbock pushed forward last year through the Sanctuary City for the Unborn anti-abortion ordinance and similar statewide legislation.

More: 'Whole range of rights could now be at risk' if Roe v. Wade is overturned, Biden says

A draft majority opinion, leaked to Politico and published Monday, suggests that justices are considering a ruling as soon as this summer that would do just that: reverse almost 50 years of constitutional protections for abortion and allow state legislatures across the country to set distinctive limits on the procedure.

“I pray that Roe v. Wade will be overturned, and for the safety of the Justices and their families as this opinion is set to be published," said Burrows, R-Lubbock. "I wholeheartedly agree with the presumptive majority opinion that the U.S. Constitution ‘makes no reference to abortion’ and the Roe / Casey decisions circumvented democracy."

Lubbock voters say yes to Sanctuary City for the Unborn ordinance to limit abortion

U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Lubbock, said that if Justice Samuel Alito’s draft opinion holds, Roe v. Wade will be overturned and issues of abortion will be delegated to the states and their elected representatives.

"I agree wholeheartedly with Justice Alito — abortion rights in Roe were erroneously invented by the Court, not derived from the Constitution, and, therefore, were 'ill-conceived and deeply flawed," Arrington said in a statement Tuesday morning. "Pray for the Justices who have indicated they are aligned with Alito that they would have the courage to follow through infidelity to the Constitution and faithfulness to our core values as one nation under God."

More: Supreme Court deliberations are supposed to be secret. So how did a draft abortion opinion leak?

Impact in Texas

Should the court issue such an opinion later this year, it would fundamentally change the landscape of reproductive rights across the nation and in Texas, where laws already on the books would end virtually all access to the procedure within a month of the ruling, according to today's story from the Austin American-Statesman.

Texans have been living under a significant ban on abortion since September after the Legislature adopted a law prohibiting the procedure after about six weeks of pregnancy, according to Avalanche-Journal archives.

Senate Bill 8 - like the city of Lubbock's Sanctuary City for the Unborn Ordinance approved by voters last May - employs a unique civil enforcement mechanism that has allowed it to withstand judicial challenges.

Currently under SB 8, any private individual can sue abortion providers, nurses or any person who aids or abets an abortion that violates the law. Successful litigants can collect at least $10,000.

More: What happens if Roe v. Wade is overturned? What we know about Supreme Court's leaked draft

Burrows recalled that, during the Legislative Session last year, state lawmakers took action on this issue and passed SB 8 - the Heartbeat Bill - that he says has already saved thousands of babies.

Additionally, he said, the Legislature also passed the Trigger Bill, which will outlaw all abortions if Roe is overturned.

"Texas is a prolife State, and I am proud to have help champion these efforts," Burrows said. "Furthermore, the House and Senate Colleagues doubled funding for the Alternatives to Abortion program, which provides services to women who choose life. I feel Lubbock has led the way against abortion in Texas since our victory with the Sanctuary City for the Unborn Ordinance. With God’s help, all states will be able to exercise their constitutional rights and protect the unborn.”

In response to late Monday's revelation, Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas promoted several pro-abortion-rights demonstrations in larger metro areas across the state Tuesday and shared a series of statements insisting it will continue fighting for access for all women's healthcare, including abortions.

"Let's be clear: This is a draft opinion. It’s outrageous, it’s unprecedented, but it is not final. Abortion is your right — and it is STILL LEGAL," reads a statement from Planned Parenthood.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock lawmakers encouraged by leaked Supreme Court abortion opinion