Roe vs. Wade Case Brief
By: Merianne Pamias,
The decision in the case of Roe vs. Wade (1973) impelled a national debate over abortion that has yet to be laid to rest. Citizens of the United States continue to ponder when an unborn child acquires rights, and who is qualified to make the decision, as well as to what extent a person has a constitutional right to privacy. Even though the Constitution does not explicitly state the right to privacy, ultimately the court decided that laws against abortion violated a constitutional right to privacy under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Before the case, most states outlawed abortion unless the mother’s life was in danger. After the case, a mother can have an abortion for any reason up until the point when the fetus could possibly live outside of the mother’s womb, which is approximately at seven months. An enormous controversy was stirred because of the passionate beliefs on both sides of the case.
Most of the country became divided between pro-choice and pro-life. The question of how morals and religious views should affect the laws also became a significant topic. The outcome of the case was distressing for those that believe a child has rights from the moment of conception, because to them abortion at any point during a pregnancy is murder. A major issue was trying to pinpoint the beginning of life, which many found to be impossible. However, many people sided and empathized with Roe. Jane Roe, a pregnant, single woman, challenged the Texas abortion laws because she felt they were unconstitutional. She believed that she was being denied her rights to privacy and personal freedom. On January 22, 1973, after she had already given birth to her child, she won her case and changed the lives of many women forever.
Roe emphasized the impact that bearing a child has on a woman’s life and the detrimental consequences that an unplanned child can create. Sarah Weddington, Roe’s lawyer that won the...