As always, you can find the Dobbs v. Jackson decision here.

Paragraph 6 of 6

Sentence 2 of 4

Just one claim in this sentence, too:

“At that time, also by the Roe Court’s own count, a substantial majority—30 States—still prohibited abortion at all stages except to save the life of the mother. See id., at 118, and n. 2 (listing States).”

It’s a simple claim, and if that quote applies to all thirty states the claim is likely true. Here’s the cited passage in context:

“The Texas statutes that concern us here are Arts. 1191-1194 and 1196 of the State’s Penal Code. [Footnote 1] These make it a crime to “procure an abortion,” as therein defined, or to attempt one, except with respect to “an abortion procured or attempted by medical advice for the purpose of saving the life of the mother.” Similar statutes are in existence in a majority of the States. [Footnote 2]

Obviously, the quote in the Dobbs sentence applies to just Texas, not all thirty states Dobbs includes in its claim, but here’s the material in footnote 2:

“Ariz.Rev.Stat.Ann. § 13-211 (1956); Conn.Pub. Act No. 1 (May 1972 special session) (in 4 Conn.Leg.Serv. 677 (1972)), and Conn.Gen.Stat.Rev. §§ 53-29, 53-30 (1968) (or unborn child); Idaho Code § 18-601 (1948); Ill.Rev.Stat., c. 38, § 23-1 (1971); Ind.Code § 35-1-58-1 (1971); Iowa Code § 701.1 (1971); Ky.Rev.Stat. § 436.020 (1962); La.Rev.Stat. § 37: 1285(6) (1964) (loss of medical license) (but see § 14:87 (Supp. 1972) containing no exception for the life of the mother under the criminal statute); Me.Rev.Stat. Ann, Tit. 17, § 51 (1964); Mass.Gen.Laws Ann., c. 272, § 19 (1970) (using the term “unlawfully,” construed to exclude an abortion to save the mother’s life, Kudish v. Bd. of Registration, 356 Mass. 98, 248 N.E.2d 264 (1969)); Mich.Comp.Laws § 750.14 (1948); Minn.Stat. § 617.18 (1971); Mo.Rev.Stat. § 559.100 (1969); Mont.Rev.Codes Ann. § 94-401 (1969); Neb.Rev.Stat. § 28-405 (1964); Nev.Rev.Stat. § 200.220 (1967); N.H.Rev.Stat.Ann. § 585: 13 (1955); N.J.Stat.Ann. § 2A:87-1 (1969) (“without lawful justification”); N.D.Cent.Code §§ 12-25-01, 12-25-02 (1960); Ohio Rev.Code Ann. § 2901.16 (1953); Okla.Stat.Ann., Tit. 21, § 861 (1972-1973 Supp.); Pa.Stat.Ann., Tit. 18, §§ 4718, 4719 (1963) (“unlawful”); R.I.Gen.Laws Ann. § 11-3-1 (1969); S.D.Comp.Laws Ann. § 22-17-1 (1967); Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 39-301, 39-302 (1956); Utah Code Ann. §§ 76-2-1, 76-2-2 (1953); Vt.Stat.Ann., Tit. 13, § 101 (1958); W.Va.Code Ann. § 61-2-8 (1966); Wis.Stat. § 940.04 (1969); Wyo.Stat.Ann. §§ 6-77, 6-78 (1957).”

Is that thirty states? A thousand states? That’s a lot to look into, so for now this claim and all of its citations remain undetermined:

• “At that time, also by the Roe Court’s own count, a substantial majority—30 States—still prohibited abortion at all stages except to save the life of the mother.”

And just for the record, here are the citations in footnote 2 in list form:

1. Ariz.Rev.Stat.Ann. § 13-211 (1956);
2. Conn.Pub. Act No. 1 (May 1972 special session)
3. (in 4 Conn.Leg.Serv. 677 (1972)), and
4. Conn.Gen.Stat.Rev. §§ 53-29, 53-30 (1968) (or unborn child);
5. Idaho Code § 18-601 (1948);
6. Ill.Rev.Stat., c. 38, § 23-1 (1971);
7. Ind.Code § 35-1-58-1 (1971);
8. Iowa Code § 701.1 (1971);
9. Ky.Rev.Stat. § 436.020 (1962);
10. La.Rev.Stat. § 37: 1285(6) (1964) (loss of medical license)
11. (but see § 14:87 (Supp. 1972) containing no exception for the life of the mother under the criminal statute);
12. Me.Rev.Stat. Ann, Tit. 17, § 51 (1964);
13. Mass.Gen.Laws Ann., c. 272, § 19 (1970) (using the term “unlawfully,” construed to exclude an abortion to save the mother’s life,
14. Kudish v. Bd. of Registration, 356 Mass. 98, 248 N.E.2d 264 (1969));
15. Mich.Comp.Laws § 750.14 (1948);
16. Minn.Stat. § 617.18 (1971); Mo.Rev.Stat. § 559.100 (1969);
17. Mont.Rev.Codes Ann. § 94-401 (1969);
18. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 28-405 (1964);
19. Nev.Rev.Stat. § 200.220 (1967);
20. N.H.Rev.Stat.Ann. § 585: 13 (1955);
21. N.J.Stat.Ann. § 2A:87-1 (1969) (“without lawful justification”);
22. N.D.Cent.Code §§ 12-25-01, 12-25-02 (1960);
23. Ohio Rev.Code Ann. § 2901.16 (1953);
24. Okla.Stat.Ann., Tit. 21, § 861 (1972-1973 Supp.);
25. Pa.Stat.Ann., Tit. 18, §§ 4718, 4719 (1963) (“unlawful”);
26. R.I.Gen.Laws Ann. § 11-3-1 (1969);
27. S.D.Comp.Laws Ann. § 22-17-1 (1967);
28. Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 39-301, 39-302 (1956);
29. Utah Code Ann. §§ 76-2-1, 76-2-2 (1953);
30. Vt.Stat.Ann., Tit. 13, § 101 (1958);
31. W.Va.Code Ann. § 61-2-8 (1966);
32. Wis.Stat. § 940.04 (1969);
33. Wyo.Stat.Ann. §§ 6-77, 6-78 (1957).

Thirty-three sources. Fun.