“This is about five extremist justices… at least two of them swore up and down that they cared about the rule of law and Roe v Wade is settled law.”

— Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), quoted by CNN.

New York Times: “Its reputation was in decline even before the extraordinary breach of its norms of confidentiality, with much of the nation persuaded that it is little different from the political branches of the government. The internal disarray the leak suggests, wholly at odds with the decorum prized by Chief Justice John Roberts, was a blow to the legitimacy of the court.”

“Relations among the justices, too, on the evidence of questioning at arguments and statements in opinions, have turned fraught and frosty…”

“The fact of the leak cannot be separated from its substance. Only a move as extraordinary as eliminating a constitutional right in place for half a century could transform the court into an institution like any other in Washington, where rival factions disclose secrets in the hope of obtaining advantage.”

A new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds that 54% of Americans think the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision should be upheld while just 28% believe it should be overturned — a roughly 2-to-1 margin.

Chief Justice John Roberts said that the leaked draft opinion that proposes overturning Roe v. Wade is authentic but not final, and he is opening an investigation into how it became public, the Washington Post reports.

Said Roberts: “To the extent this betrayal of the confidences of the Court was intended to undermine the integrity of our operations, it will not succeed. The work of the Court will not be affected in any way.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) called last night’s leak on the vote to overturn Roe v. Wade “an attack on the independence of the Supreme Court” by the “radical left.”

He added: “This lawless action should be investigated and punished as fully as possible. The Chief Justice must get to the bottom of it and the Department of Justice must pursue criminal charges if applicable.”

Kevin Madden: “Few things more futile than a good ol’ Washington leak hunt.“