ROE v. WADE
Sarah Jackson 2nd period
Issue
A Texas woman, Jane Roe, wanted to terminate her pregnancy through abortion. However, Texas law prohibits abortion unless it is needed to save the woman's life. Roe claimed that she could not afford to travel out of state and had a right to terminate her pregnancy in a safe medical environment.
Decision
The court decided that a woman's right to an abortion fell within the right to privacy protected by the 14th amendment. The court also ruled that a state may constitutionally protect a fetus from abortion in the third trimester of pregnancy. Two members of the Supreme Court voted against Roe while the other 7 members voted in favor of Roe.
Impact
This decision gave women total authority over the pregnancy during their first trimester. The laws of 46 states were affected by this ruling. This ruling was controversial from the moment it was released. This court case politically divided the nation more than any other recent case. This court case has inspired heated debates, politics and violence still today.