Letter: A Bill of Rights would hold judges to public standards
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Your correspondent Peter Mantle (letter, 21 June), who believes that judges are better placed than politicians to take 'important decisions', omits to mention just how detrimental to women the decisions of constitutional courts can be.
German politicians recently referred a liberal abortion law to the constitutional court (seven men, one woman). The court ruled by 6:2 that abortion is illegal and may not be funded by the state. (The woman dissented.) It is restricted to German women of private means, in limited circumstances. This was contrary to the wishes and needs of East German women.
In Ireland, where courts banned information on abortion altogether, the Supreme Court ruled in 1992 that women could be stopped from travelling to England for abortions, unless their lives were at real risk. Lawyers speculated whether women could be detained at ports and airports if they were suspected of going abroad for an abortion, interrogated and subjected to physical examination. The ruling made such totalitarian scenarios a real possibility.
Yours faithfully,
BARBARA HEWSON
Barrister
Gray's Inn
London, WC1
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments