After Roe leak, abortion in Pennsylvania could hinge on this year’s election

A U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 case establishing a federal right to abortion, drew strong reactions and backlash Tuesday in Philadelphia.

The leaked document, published by Politico on Monday night and later acknowledged by the court, also highlighted the importance of the May 17 primary and November’s general election, when Pennsylvanians will select a governor and fill an open U.S. Senate seat.

Jack Parr, 18, of Long Island, New York and Lexi Plaisted, 18, of Philadelphia, gather with other protestors outside the Supreme Court to react to the leak of a draft majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito preparing for a majority of the court to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion rights decision later this year.REUTERS/Moira Warburton

Unlike some other states, Pennsylvania does not have a “trigger law” that would go into effect, meaning abortion would remain legally protected — at least in the short-term — even if the justices tossed out Roe.