Source: Politics<\/p>\n
Justice Samuel Alito canceled a planned appearance in Nashville, Tennessee, on Friday, just days after the disclosure of his draft opinion showed that the Supreme Court has voted to strike down Roe v. Wade.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The justice was scheduled to speak at the Fifth Circuit\u2019s Annual Conference but instead recorded a brief video for attendees. He said he was \u201cvery much looking forward to visiting,\u201d according to Josh Blackman, a professor at South Texas College of Law, who published a blog post about the cancellation.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately personal attendance became impractical, and I apologize,\u201d Alito said, according to Blackman’s post. <\/p>\n The draft opinion published by POLITICO<\/a> sparked outrage across the country this week, as Americans anticipated the court\u2019s reversal of the 1973 landmark decision. Fifty percent of voters oppose overturning Roe v. Wade, according to a POLITICO\/Morning Consult poll published this week. <\/p>\n Barricades now line the front of the Supreme Court\u2019s steps, blocking protesters from getting closer to the chambers, and law enforcement officials across the country are bracing<\/a> for potential unrest and violence.<\/p>\n Other justices moved forward with scheduled appearances this week. Chief Justice John Roberts, speaking at a judicial conference Thursday in Atlanta, called the disclosure of the opinion \u201cabsolutely appalling\u201d and said he hopes it doesn\u2019t change Americans\u2019 perception of the nation\u2019s highest court, according to CNN.<\/a> <\/p>\n Justice Clarence Thomas spoke at a different conference in Atlanta on Friday, though he didn\u2019t explicitly mention the abortion case.<\/p>\n \u201cThey can\u2019t be institutions that give you outcomes that you want every time,\u201d Thomas said, according to Bloomberg Law.<\/a> \u201cAnd they can\u2019t be bullied into giving you a particular outcome. An institution has to have civility. And I think you\u2019re losing that in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n Protest groups have directed demonstrators to gather outside justices\u2019 private residences, including Alito\u2019s. White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Thursday said President Joe Biden is urging protesters to be peaceful.<\/p>\n \u201cHis message directly would be to anybody out there who is feeling that frustration, is participating in peaceful protest, is: Ensure it\u2019s peaceful; have your voice heard peacefully,\u201d Psaki said. \u201cWe should not be resorting to violence in any way, shape, or form. That\u2019s certainly what he would be conveying.\u201d<\/p>\n