Court cancels oral arguments in Roe V. Wade consideration

Feb 24, 2004 / 22:00 pm

A federal appeals court canceled oral arguments on a motion to reconsider the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortion in the country.

The oral arguments were to have been heard next week but the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided Feb. 23 that it will now only review written briefs, reported the San Antonio Express-News. The judges offered no explanation for their decision.

Norma McCorvey of Dallas, who fought for legal access to abortion under the pseudonym Jane Roe more than 30 years ago, has contended that Roe vs. Wade should be re-opened and re-decided in light of evidence that the procedure may harm women. McCorvey, who is now a pro-life activist, filed her motion in June 2003.

This is not McCorvey’s first attempt to have the decision overturned. She filed her request to a federal district court in Dallas last year, but it was thrown out days later. The judge said that it wasn’t filed within a reasonable time.

The 5th Circuit panel could reverse the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. It could also reverse the 2003 lower court's decision to throw out McCorvey's motion and order it be granted a hearing. But the panel could also the lower court's decision, which would push the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.