On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court released a decision granting a great victory for the natural rights of the unborn. Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization overturned the tragedy of Roe v. Wade and helped our country toward protecting all life, both inside and outside the womb. At the James Wilson Institute, we could not be more excited to share with you the foresight, wisdom, and practical advice concerning Dobbs that our founder, scholars, and fellows have to offer. We hope their writings give you a better sense of where the Dobbs opinion lies in the trajectory of the pro-life movement and of what lies ahead. For the latest updates, please check this page.

Essays

• "After Dobbs: The End of the Beginning"  JWI Founder and Director Hadley Arkes compares the Dobbs opinion to the Emancipation Proclamation, noting that each decision was the turning point in the pro-life movement and the abolition movement respectively. He also brings warning for the new era of the pro-life fight, demonstrating that the movement will not be completely successful unless it establishes that personhood is truly an objective issue.

• "What Comes After Roe" JWI Senior Scholar Gerard V. Bradley praises the honest and explicit recognition of Roe's unconstitutionality in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization opinion. Like Arkes, Bradley asserts that the main pitfall is the avoidance of declaring the unborn as persons, though he acknowledges that Dobbs provides the foundation for legal recognition of unborn personhood in the future.
   
• "After Dobbs, What Comes Next for the Conservative Legal Project?" James Wilson Affiliated Scholar Josh Hammer ('21) reviews the latest conservative victories in the Supreme Court. He claims that the unusual successes of the right—especially in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization—should cue the conservative legal project to stop playing defense and join the offense in helping to preserve and further these victories.
   
• "After Dobbs: Towards a Federal Ban on Abortion" James Wilson Affiliated Scholar Josh Craddock writes for The Postliberal Order, arguing for how crucial it is to include the unborn as legal persons. He also describes the steps each branch of the federal government should take in furthering the pro-life movement.
   
• "She had an abortion at age 19—now she's a pro-life leader who wants women to know there are other options" Reporter John Burger interviews James Wilson Fellow Catherine Glenn Foster ('16) for Aleteia. Foster shares her thoughts on the chances of Congress codifying Roe, which states will be most difficult to fight in, how to stop women from taking abortion pills, and more.

• "The Next Pro-Life Goal Is Constitutional Personhood" Josh Hammer and Josh Craddock outline the path ahead for the pro life movement at the Federal level, as legislators act to prevent our nation becoming "a house divided against itself."

• "Selective History in the Dobbs Dissent" JWI Affiliated Scholar Justin Dyer criticizes Justice Sotomayor's dissenting opinion in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case. However, he also appreciates that the dissent does not exclusively rely on historicism.

Podcasts

• "Did The Dobbs Decision Go Far Enough?" Prof. Arkes joins Emily Jashinsky on The Federalist Radio Hour to explain why the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization opinion did not go far enough. Arkes and Jashinsky also contemplate substantive due process and the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg's likely response to Dobbs.
   
• "Hadley P. Arkes & Why The Supreme Court Got It Right" Prof. Arkes joins Ben Domenech on an episode of The Ben Domenech Podcast to break down the legal doctrine that led to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. 
   
• "Catherine Glenn Foster on Abortion and the Dawning of a Post-Roe America" Catherine Glenn Foster joins Wesley J. Smith on Humanize and discusses the legal aspect of the pro-life movement & how her abortion motivated her in her present activism.
   
• "Overturning Roe was the First Step to Building a Culture of Life: Bob Burney with Ryan Anderson" Bob Burney of The Christian Outlook interviews Ryan Anderson about his new book Tearing Us Apart: How Abortion Harms Everything and Solves Nothing within the context of the Dobbs opinion.
  
• Life After Dobbs Join JWI Affiliated Scholar Ryan Anderson and Alexandra DeSanctis for their new podcast series with the Ethics and Public Policy Center as they interview top pro-life leaders.

• "The Future of Abortion Law" In "The Future of Abortion Law," James Wilson Institute Founder and Director Hadley Arkes joins Richard Reinsch on The Daily Signal Podcast to discuss abortion jurisprudence.

• "Discussing Dobbs with a Lawyer" Catherine Glenn Foster joins Kristan Hawkins on Explicitly Pro-Life to dispel myths about abortion.

Webinars

• "Life Beyond Roe" Prof. Arkes and JWI Affiliated Scholar Ryan Anderson join over 40 pro-life leaders to break down the legal language in Dobbs and explain how Dobbs affects everyday pro-life Americans.
   
• "Dobbs and What It Means for the Pro-Life Movement" In a collaboration with Americans United for Life, Prof. Hadley Arkes, Josh Craddock, and Catherine Glenn Foster share their unique insights on Dobbs and answer questions from the audience.
   
• "Conservative Women's Network: Pro-Life Panel Discussion" Catherine Glenn Foster joins Mallory Carroll and Alexandra DeSanctis in Washington, D.C., in a panel discussing the future of the pro-life movement.

Videos

• "EMERGENCY: Dobbs for Dummies (feat. Josh Craddock)" From the YouTube description: "In [t]oday's episode of 'Moment of Truth,' Saurabh and Nick sit down with Josh Craddock, Lawyer and Affiliated Scholar at the James Wilson Institute, to discuss the history of abortion law in the United States, the legal arguments from the majority opinion, concurrences, and dissent in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the future of the pro-life movement, and the implications of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade."

• "LIVE with Lila Rose and Special Guests To Discuss The Overturn of Roe!" Josh Hammer joins Live Action to explain Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.

• "Life after Roe v. Wade" Catherine Glenn Foster joins Star Parker on CURE America to share her testimony about her pro-life journey.