The Justice in the Middle

For both sides in the abortion debate, O'Connor is a moving target

For good reason, Sandra Day O'Connor is known as the abortion swing vote on the U.S. Supreme Court. In two of the cases last week involving parental notification, O'Connor swayed between the court's evenly balanced liberal and conservative wings. She joined court liberals in a 5-to-4 majority that overturned the Minnesota law requiring adolescents to inform both parents ! before obtaining an abortion. Then she moved rightward to give conservatives a 5-to-4 majority that approved the Minnesota law that offers minors the option of getting permission for abortion from a judge.

Peregrinations such as these have made O'Connor a moving target...

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