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Abstract
This study examines cable news’s framing of the U.S. Supreme Court by analyzing coverage of the landmark 2022 case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and eliminated the constitutional right to abortion. By conducting a verbal and visual rhetorical framing analysis of three days of news coverage from CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC immediately after the release of Dobbs, this study found that each outlet framed the Court and its decision positively or negatively based on its partisan orientation. The Court’s legal reasoning received little coverage, whereas the conservative justices in the majority and the overall outcome received voluminous coverage. Given the wide reach of these outlets and the modern partisan political climate in America, this presents a challenge for the continued legitimacy of the Supreme Court and the public’s understanding of the institution.