Roe v. Wade
The decision shaped abortion law for nearly fifty years before being overruled by Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
Did the Constitution protect a right to abortion?
Roe v. Wade challenged a Texas law that broadly prohibited abortion. The Court considered whether the Due Process Clause protected a privacy interest broad enough to include a decision to terminate a pregnancy.
The Supreme Court held that the Constitution protected a right to abortion before viability, while allowing the government to regulate more heavily as pregnancy progressed. The decision created the trimester framework later modified by Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
Roe shaped constitutional law and national politics for nearly fifty years. In 2022, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overruled Roe and Casey, returning abortion regulation largely to state political processes.
Facts
A challenge to a Texas abortion law reached the Supreme Court.
Ruling
The Court held that the Due Process Clause protected a qualified right to abortion.
Why It Matters
The decision shaped abortion law for nearly fifty years before being overruled by Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
Related Ideas