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Naturally, those who nowadays see Roe v. Wade and its progeny as abominations will want to see them swept away, the faster the better, but they might do well to heed the lessons of Brown. To grab too much, too fast, is to mark oneself as a revolutionary, not an advocate of restraint. Frankly, revolutionaries make America a little nervous.

In the years to come, the justices will face several opportunities to chip away at the corners of Roe. In the current term, the Court will likely decide on parental notification for minors seeking abortions. This is a perfectly sensible restriction that is popular even among Americans who describe themselves as pro-choice. Soon the Court will confront statutes restricting the availability of abortions late in pregnancy, especially partial-birth abortions.

A moderate, thoughtful nation might be gently led to see the error of Roe by a moderate, thoughtful Court. A revolutionary attack on its center will certainly fail. If the justices lead the revolution, it will justifiably fail. If it is wrong for the Supreme Court to insist on revolutionary change according to the passions of its members, it does not become right simply because of a change in personnel.

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November 2005, Vol. 49, No. 11