ID: Roe v. Wade
When: January 22, 1973
Who:
- Plaintiff: Jane Roe (a pseudonym to protect the plaintiff’s identity), an unmarried pregnant woman.
- Defendant: Henry Wade, the District Attorney of Dallas County, Texas, who enforced Texas laws prohibiting abortion.
- Supreme Court Justices: A majority of the Supreme Court, including Justice Harry Blackmun, who wrote the majority opinion.
What:
A landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court. The Court ruled that the Constitution protects a pregnant woman’s liberty to choose to have an abortion without excessive government restriction. The decision struck down many federal and state abortion laws and established a trimester framework:
- First Trimester: The state could not prohibit abortions.
- Second Trimester: The state could regulate abortions to protect the woman’s health.
- Third Trimester: The state could prohibit abortions, except when necessary to save the life or health of the mother.
Impact: Why Significant?:
- Legalized Abortion Nationally: Legalized abortion across the United States, establishing a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion.
- Triggered Political Polarization: Sparked intense and ongoing political debate between “pro-choice” and “pro-life” movements.
- Foundation for Future Privacy Rights: Based on the right to privacy implied by the Fourteenth Amendment, which has been used in other cases involving personal autonomy.
- Ongoing Legal Challenges: Faced numerous legal challenges and attempts to overturn or restrict access to abortion since the ruling.
- Divided Public Opinion: Continues to be a highly divisive issue, influencing elections, legislation, and social activism.