May 23 marks the second “opinion issuance day” since the leak of a draft opinion in the case that suggests justices will overturn Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide in 1973.
After what we’ve just witnessed following the SCOTUS leak, the Biden admin is bracing for violence across the United States. That decision may come as early as Monday.
Quite often, the court waits to issue decisions in larger, more controversial cases like Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization until the end of the court’s term in late June or early July, however, due to the nature of the leak of the draft opinion, written by Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., SCOUTS may break with this tradition and rule on the case much sooner.
A memo dated May 13 from the Department of Homeland Security reveals that the Biden administration is investigating threats to the Supreme Court building and to justices in the weeks since the leak. The memo first reported by Axios details ongoing investigations into threats to “burn down or storm” the Supreme Court building. A fence surrounding the Supreme Court has since been erected.
In addition, the DHS memo reportedly says the protests outside conservative justices’ homes “are likely to persist and may increase leading up to and following the issuing of the Court’s official ruling.”
The DHS memo goes on to clarify that rhetoric supporting violent extremism does not itself constitute extremism which is a complete contradiction of their stance on the Jan. 6th Capital Riot where protestors have been accused of extremism during and following the event.
“The mere advocacy of political or social positions, political activism, use of strong rhetoric, or generalized philosophic embrace of violent tactics does not constitute domestic violent extremism or illegal activity and is constitutionally protected,” the memo reportedly reads.
The Supreme Court issues opinions on Mondays at 10 a.m. ET, so the next opportunity to hand down a decision in the case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Center, would be on May 23.
