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Kresta in the Afternoon – July 5, 2022 – Hour 1

We have a full lineup of legal scholars taking us on a deep dive into the Dobbs ruling, examining each of the opinions in this dissent. In this hour, Lee Strang looks at Alito’s majority opinion and John Czarnetzky explains Thomas’ concurring opinion.


The Opinion that Struck Down Roe

The majority opinion in Dobbs was authored by Justice Samuel Alito, joined by Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett. In his opinion, Alito directly attacks the infamous passage from Planned Parenthood v Casey, when Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote that “at the heart of liberty is the right to defend one’s own concept of existence.” Professor Lee Strang explains more about Alito’s majority opinion.

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Unpacking Justice Alito’s Soundly Constitutional and Philosophically Coherent Dobbs Opinion

Lee Strang is Professor of Law and Values at University of Toledo. He has published dozens of articles in the fields of constitutional law and interpretation, property law, and religion and the First Amendment. He is the author of Originalism’s Promise: A Natural Law Account of the American Constitution.

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Justice Thomas: “We should reconsider all this Court’s due process precedents.”  

In his concurring opinion, Justice Thomas writes that “we should reconsider all of this Court’s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell.” Some have used this passage to stoke fears that gay marriage and access to contraception could also be struck down in future court decisions. John Czarnetzky gives us his analysis. 

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Putting progressive jurisprudence on notice

Ave Maria School of Law

John Czarnetzky is Chief Executive Officer and Dean at the Ave Maria School of Law. He also serves as a legal adviser to the Holy See’s Mission to the United Nations, representing the Holy See in negotiations, including establishing the International Criminal Court and several international treaties, including one on the rights of persons with disabilities. Dean Czarnetzky is a lay member of the Dominican Order and a third-degree Knight of Columbus.

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