Supreme Court Leak: Police prepare for possible demonstrations amid Roe v. Wade controversy

Draft suggests SCOTUS could overturn Roe v. Wade

FOX 5’s chief legal correspondent Katie Barlow discusses a draft opinion that suggests the U.S. Supreme Court could be poised to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion nationwide.

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - The U.S. Capitol Police are preparing for possible demonstrations after a leaked draft majority opinion from the Supreme Court indicated the court was poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, a landmark ruling in the 70s that paved the way for legalized abortions, in certain cases, across the country.

USCP released this statement after the draft was leaked:

"We are working closely with our partner law enforcement agencies to prepare for any potential demonstrations in the area of the Supreme Court, including adding additional officers in the area."

In the opinion, Justice Samuel Alito says the 1973 landmark decision guaranteeing constitutional protections of abortion rights, must be overruled. The opinion was written in response to the Mississippi case, which bans most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

No draft decision in the court's modern history has ever been publicly disclosed while the case was still pending.

Roe v. Wade: Why was draft opinion suggesting Supreme Court will overturn abortion ruling leaked?

FOX 5’s chief legal correspondent Katie Barlow takes a look at theories that are circulating as to why a draft opinion suggesting the Supreme Court will overturn the 1973 landmark Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion nationwide could have been leaked.

If Roe v. Wade is overturned, it would remove the federal guarantee of abortion protection and allow each state to set its own rules.

Barriers were set up in front of the steps of the Supreme Court Building Monday as authorities anticipated crowds in response to the report on abortion rights.

Young adults held rosaries and prayed aloud; others waved signs that read "Bans off my body," and "I am the pro-life generation." And the thumping sounds of a large drum provided a soundtrack for the scene.

Protestors react to leaked Supreme Court draft

FOX 5's Chief Legal Correspondent Katie Barlow discusses the scene in front of the Supreme Court Monday after Politico leaked a draft majority opinion to overturn Roe V. Wade from the High Court.

In an email to FOX 5, a spokesperson for the SCOTUS said, "The Court has no comment."

The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the case before its term is up in late June or early July.