The Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 decision of Roe v Wade that codified the constitutional right to abortion.
This ruling does not immediately make abortion illegal in North Carolina, but that's largely due to the Tar heel state's tightly split voters. Republicans have pushed to place more restrictions on abortions, but Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed those efforts and vowed to continue to do so.
Meanwhile, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis praised the decision calling it "historic and monumental."
Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson:
Former NC Supreme Court Chief Justice & current candidate for US Senate Cheri Beasley:
US Senate candidate Ted Bud:
NC Attorney General Josh Stein:
President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate Phil Berger:
"The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs returns policy decisions regarding abortion to the states, which is where those decisions should be made. I remain committed to the right to life and protecting the unborn. North Carolina's law banning abortions after 20 weeks is currently unenforceable. We will take immediate action to ensure North Carolina's late-term abortion ban is reinstated. Senate Republicans will determine whether other steps are appropriate to strengthen our pro-life laws, but I do not anticipate legislative action prior to adjournment."
Rep. G. K. Butterfield (NC-01):
"Today is a sad day in American jurisprudence."
Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12):
"I'm angry, that's all that can be said. While abortion care is still legal in the State of North Carolina, today's decision is fundamentally wrong."
Executive Director of North Carolina Values Coalition Tami Fitzgerald:
"This is a huge victory for unborn babies and their mothers, and lives are already being saved in Mississippi and other states around the country. Around 26 states today became pro-life, unfortunately North Carolina is not one of them."
"In North Carolina, our work is only beginning. Our laws should recognize that life is a human right. Because of modern medicine and science, we now know that unborn babies have a heartbeat at about six weeks, and by fifteen weeks they have fully formed noses, lips and eyebrows, suck their thumbs, and they feel pain. It is time for the law to catch up with the science and modernize our laws."
ABC11 also spoke with Tara Romano, the executive director for the Pro-Choice Foundation of North Carolina on her reaction to the ruling.
NC abortion advocate reacts to Roe v Wade being overturned
As more North Carolina leaders release statements in response to the Supreme Court ruling, we will add them to this article.