- No SCOTUS conservatives have withdrawn their backing for overturning Roe v. Wade, Politico reported.
- Justices are to meet Thursday for the first time since the draft opinion was leaked.
- The leak has sparked one of the gravest crises in SCOTUS history.
The US Supreme Court remains on course to overturn Roe v. Wade, with no conservative justices who signed a leaked draft opinion opposing the landmark abortion rights ruling having changed their minds, Politico reported.
Last week the outlet published a leaked draft opinion penned by Justice Samuel Alito and backed by four conservative justices overturning the five-decade-old abortion rights ruling.
According to Politico, the draft opinion remains the only one in circulation ahead of the first meeting by justices Thursday in the wake of the leak. It reports that none of the conservatives who signed the draft ruling have switched votes, and no dissenting opinion has been issued, including from liberal justices.
Insider reported Wednesday that Chief Justice John Roberts likely opposes completely overturning Roe v. Wade and seeks to persuade conservative justices to back a more moderate reform of the ruling as it adjudicates on a Mississippi bill banning abortion.
The leaked memo has caused political shockwaves, with Democrats pledging to codify Roe v. Wade into law and making its explosive contents the centerpiece of midterm campaigns. Republicans, who have long opposed Roe v. Wade, are portraying the leak as a plot to stop it from being overturned.
It has also caused one of the greatest crises in Supreme Court history. Roberts, on May 3, described the leak as a "betrayal of the confidences of the court," which was "intended to undermine the integrity of our operations." The Marshal of the Supreme Court has launched a search for the leaker's identity.
Pro-choice protesters have held demonstrations outside the homes of conservative justices, and the Justice Department has increased its security protection. a large fence has been put up around the Supreme Court building.
The justices are expected to reach a final decision on the future of Roe v. Wade before their summer break in July.