Vice President Mike Pence: ‘I do’ want Roe v. Wade overturned

Vice President Mike Pence has long been vocal about his opposition to abortion, and on Tuesday, he confirmed that he still hopes to see Roe v. Wade overturned. However, he was unable to state whether he believes Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh would indeed vote to overturn Roe v. Wade – the decision that made abortion legal in 1973.

“I stand for the sanctity of life,” he told CNN’s Dana Bash. “This administration, this President are pro-life, but what the American people ought to know is that, as the President said today, this is not an issue he discussed with Judge Kavanaugh, I didn’t discuss it with him either.”

Bash asked Pence directly if he wants to see Roe v. Wade overturned to which Pence responded, “I do, but I haven’t been nominated to the Supreme Court.”

READ: 7 facts about Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh

Throughout the nation, there are currently a variety of abortion-related court cases making their way through lower courts. From when abortion should be allowed, to which abortion procedures can be used, to whom specifically abortion can target, such as preborn children diagnosed with disabilities, these cases have the potential to reach the Supreme Court. If accepted by the Supreme Court justices, each case could become an opportunity for Roe v. Wade to be overturned.

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One such case is from Indiana, where a federal appeals court ruled in April that an abortion law signed in March 2016 by Pence – who was governor of Indiana at the time – is unconstitutional. The law prohibits abortion for discriminatory reasons, including the preborn child’s sex, race, national origin, or disability, such as children diagnosed prenatally with Down syndrome. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago’s ruling upheld a district court ruling that said the law places an “undue burden” on women seeking an abortion.

READ: 3 reasons why Roe v. Wade will fall, despite past Supreme Court decisions

“The non-discrimination provisions clearly violate well-established Supreme Court precedent holding that a woman may terminate her pregnancy prior to viability, and that the State may not prohibit a woman from exercising that right for any reason,” Judge William J. Bauer wrote.

If this case is picked up the by Supreme Court, it would be an opportunity for the court to undo Roe v. Wade based on a law signed by now-Vice President Pence.