The Backstory on the Overturning of Roe v. Wade

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), under the leadership of CEO Michael Farris, assisted Mississippi legislators in drafting the Gestational Age Act, a law which limits abortions after 15 weeks.

To challenge the law, Mississippi’s only abortion clinic at that time, Jackson Women’s Health organization, sued Mississippi’s State Health Officer, Mr. Thomas Dobbs.

Michael Farris assisted Mississippi in its defense against this lawsuit. The case ultimately went to the Supreme Court and led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The result was that the authority to regulate abortion was returned to the states.

Mr. Farris will discuss the Gestational Age Act, including the legal strategy behind it, the fight to defend it, and the outcome of the Supreme Court’s decision.

ABOUT MICHAEL FARRIS

Michael Farris is a Constitutional attorney who is well known for his work with homeschool advocacy and parental rights, having worked state-by-state to preserve the right to home school in all 50 states.

Farris is the founding president of both the Home School Legal Defense Association and Patrick Henry College, a premier liberal arts college in Purcellville, Virginia. He is also co-founder of the Convention of States Project. Michael Farris has served as lead counsel in the United States Supreme Court, eight federal circuit courts, and the appellate courts of 13 states.

Most recently Mr. Farris served five years as the President, CEO, and General Counsel of Alliance Defending Freedom, the world’s foremost defender of religious liberty. Under the leadership of Farris, ADF worked with Mississippi legislators to draft the Gestational Age Act which limits abortions after 15 weeks. ADF helped to defend this law in lower courts and served on Mississippi’s legal team at the Supreme Court, ultimately leading to the overturning of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey.