# Alicia Ely Yamin on Abortion Rights in the U.S. August 25, 2022 What does a post-*Roe v. Wade* America look like? Alicia Ely Yamin, Harvard Law Professor and GHELI Senior Scholar in Residence, discusses this question and others in a new video titled “[Abortion Rights in the U.S](https://vimeo.com/738065814).” Using a historical and legal lens, Yamin examines the current situation surrounding abortion in the United States. The issue of reproductive justice came into full spotlight on June 24, 2022, when the Supreme Court issued its decision on the *Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization* case. The 6-3 ruling overturned Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 established a federal right to abortion before fetal viability. The Dobbs decision gives the power to regulate abortion back to the states. Yamin divides her discussion into three sections outlining a brief history of reproductive rights in the U.S., the majority opinion in the Dobbs decision, and what Americans might expect going forward. “We're at a really critical juncture with the overturning of *Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey*,” says Yamin. “I think everyone on all sides of the political spectrum \[is\] still getting their balance after this very huge disruption of social expectations as well as legal expectations.” Access to abortion remains an important facet of reproductive justice and maternal health. With several states moving to restrict abortions, there will undoubtably be health impacts to the wide swath of people who can conceive, especially those from Black, transgender, or other marginalized communities. To learn more about how abortion policy affects health, explore our [sexual and reproductive health](https://repository.gheli.harvard.edu/repository/collection/resource-pack-sexual-and-reproductive-health) and [global maternal mortality](https://repository.gheli.harvard.edu/repository/collection/resource-pack-global-maternal-mortality/) resource packs. Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)