Rockford Sun

In a June 24 news release, Rep. Andrew Chesney expressed support for the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.

"I am pleased with the Supreme Court's decision on Roe v. Wade that returns the debate about abortion to the states where it belongs. State legislatures will now be tasked with setting the direction for abortion. I will continue to defend life and work towards ending pro-abortion policies here in Illinois," said Chesney.

Governor J.B. Pritzker announced a special session during a press conference following the U.S. Supreme Court decision. In his press conference, he pledged that Illinois would stand up for women and that the state would not return to "Ward 41," where hospitals treated pregnancies turned septic due to botched abortions. "I am informing the General Assembly that I will be calling them into special session in the coming weeks to more firmly protect women's reproductive rights in Illinois and address the challenges posed by this radical Supreme Court decision I'm grateful to have the support and partnership of House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch and Senate President Don Harmon in this effort together the democratic leadership in Illinois is committed to taking swift action to further enshrine our commitment to reproductive health care I want to close by speaking to those who have the most at stake in today's decision to the single mom juggling 4 kids and three part time jobs Illinois will fight for you to the teenage child who endured rape or incest Illinois will fight for you to the marginalized and most vulnerable who are being attacked at every turn by transphobic or misogynistic or bigoted politicians Illinois will fight for you we will not turn back the clock here in the land of Lincoln and the home state of Barack Obama where we were the first to ratify women suffrage 100 years ago we will continue to fight for freedom and liberty and for justice for all."

The decision to overturn Roe v. Wade may be a landmark decision, but Justice Clarence Thomas wants to go further. Thomas has also suggested that the U.S. Supreme Court look at other cases that have already been ruled on - cases that focus on birth control and same-sex marriage. 

Thomas also argued in a concurring opinion released on Friday that the Supreme Court "should reconsider" its past rulings codifying rights to contraception access, same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage. The sweeping suggestion from the current court's longest-serving justice came in the concurring opinion he authored in response to the court's ruling revoking the constitutional right to abortion, also released on Friday. Thomas was appointed by President George H.W. Bush.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, in 2020 (the latest year for which statistics are available), the majority of individuals seeking an abortion were between the ages of 25 and 29, followed by 20-24 years of age. Youths between the ages of 15-19 accounted for 3,775 abortions, while adults between the ages of 20 and 29 accounted for 27,365. Individuals under the age of 15 accounted for just 88 of the state's abortions.