On June 24, the United States Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, which established the constitutional right to abortion. The decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization has already led to damaging consequences for millions across the country.
The Supreme Court has delegated the issue of womens’ rights to state legislatures, where extremist forces often carry the day. Up to 26 states have either obliterated the right to abortion altogether or are now poised to implement new and dangerous abortion restrictions, including egregiously cruel criminal prohibitions. California and other haven states are preparing for an unprecedented influx of women seeking basic reproductive care, one that will put enormous strain on already-stressed health care systems.
The Bar Association of San Francisco is the first bar association to take action and form a legal alliance in response to the crisis. On June 1, in cooperation with City Attorney David Chiu, BASF launched a first-in-the nation volunteer effort by law firms that will provide free legal services to those who will be affected by this decision. BASF then hosted a virtual summit of participating LARR members and stakeholders to triage needs and discuss strategies in July.
“We are ready to defend access to reproductive healthcare and protect those in need of legal assistance. Dobbs not only reverses nearly 50 years of precedent, it empowers the cruelest, most barbarous treatment of women imaginable. Women will be imprisoned, their health will suffer, their families will be impoverished. Some will die. This is a nationwide crisis,” said Mary McNamara, President of the Bar Association of San Francisco and the Justice & Diversity Center.
By mid-August, the Legal Alliance for Reproductive Rights (“LARR”) had already grown to 70 member firms, including more than 20 Big Law firms with national footprints. LARR will assist those who are criminally or civilly prosecuted in the post-Roe reality. In addition, BASF is planning roundtable sessions to discuss the myriad legal issues that businesses will face as they seek to protect their employees.
San Francisco's Public Defender Mano Raju expressed his concerns about the recent abortion ruling. “Bans on abortion are gender-based and racial violence,” he said. “We must normalize and protect the health choices for everyone in this country, including people from immigrant communities, who deserve to live free of stigma and with full access to safe, legal, and affordable abortion and other reproductive health care from medical providers who understand cultural and linguistic needs.”
If your firm would like to join the fight to protect and defend reproductive rights, email LARR@sfbar.org.
A special thank you to all the firms who have joined the fight so far.
