Judge Clarence Thomas is requesting the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider a ruling that dates back nearly half a century.
The Supreme Court recently made a decision on a crucial case regarding reproductive rights, unanimously rejecting attempts to limit access to Mifepristone, a pill used in over 60% of abortions in the U.S. The Court determined that the plaintiff did not have the necessary standing to bring the case.
This is the first significant reproductive rights case since the landmark decision of Roe v. Wade in 1973, which guaranteed abortion rights nationwide.
Justice Thomas, in a separate opinion, raised doubts about a ruling from 1977 that allows associations to sue on behalf of members under certain conditions.
Thomas questioned whether the concept of associational standing aligns with traditional judicial powers, suggesting the Court has veered from established principles without clarification. He argued that the Court should address the constitutional implications of associational standing in the future.
Thomas’s viewpoint sparked discussion on social media, with some concerned about the potential implications for organizations like the NAACP.
The Supreme Court, in a 9-0 decision, dismissed the challenge to abortion pills due to the lack of standing by the plaintiff group. Justice Kavanaugh authored the majority opinion, while Justice Thomas concurred with a stance against associational standing commonly used by civil rights plaintiffs.