Federal judge suggests Constitution protects abortion rights, despite Dobbs decision

D.C. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, a Clinton appointee, on Monday suggested that the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the right to abortion.

"Defendant relies on the Supreme Court's statement in Dobbs that ‘the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion.' Over the past several months since its pronouncement, this statement is often read as the Court's holding, i.e., that the Supreme Court held that no provision of the Constitution extends any right to reproductive health services," Kollar-Kotelly wrote. "For its part, and without the benefit of a fuller briefing, the Court is uncertain that this is the case." Chris Pandolfo is a writer for Fox News Digital. Send tips to chris.pandolfo@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @ChrisCPandolfo.

In Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the Supreme Court held that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion. Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, held that the high court's previous ruling establishing a right to abortion, Roe v. wade, was "egregiously wrong from the start."