Roe V. Wade Sparked Controversy

The Roe vs Wade case was and still is one of the most historical cases that hit the United States Court system. This controversial case is still talked about to this very day. The topic of abortion overall is a red button topic that when brought up often end in yelling. The case was “ Roe vs Wade, which recognised that the constitutional right to privacy extends to a woman’s right to make her own personal medical decisions -including the decision to have an abortion without interference from politicians” (PlannedParenthood.org ). This meant that women can now have access to safe, legal abortions without fear of government intrusion.This case was a huge step for women's rights and is a very necessary right to have. Every woman deserves access to safe, legal abortions.

Roe v. Wade (1973) ruled unconstitutional a state law that banned abortions except to save the life of the mother. The Court ruled that the states were forbidden from outlawing or regulating any aspect of abortion performed during the first trimester of pregnancy, could only enact abortion regulations reasonably related to maternal health in the second and third trimesters, and could enact abortion laws protecting the life of the fetus only in the third trimester. Even then, an exception had to be made to protect the life of the mother. Controversial from the moment it was released, Roe v. Wade politically divided the nation more than any other recent case and continues to inspire heated debates, politics, and even violence today ("the culture wars"). Though by no means the Supreme Court's most important decision, Roe v. Wade remains its most recognized.

The issue before the Supreme Court on the case of Roe v. Wade was on abortion. In august 1969 a single pregnant woman based in Texas wanted to get rid her pregnancy through an abortion. But her doctor denied the request on a reason that it was against the Texas law. Then Jane Roe identified by the media as Norma McCorvey sued her doctor for refusing to abort her baby she sought legal help and filed against henry wade, district attorney for Dallas County, Texas. Jane Roe argued that the law of Texas was unconstitutional. She later on requested an injunction to restrain Henry Wade. Roe’s lawyer claimed Texas abortion law violated her rights under due process clause of the 14th amendment.

Roe v. Wade remains one of the most prominent cases regarding abortion in the U.S due to the fact it was so controversial and impacted the lives of many american woman. The case transpired in Texas, a state which outlawed any form of abortion unless a mother's health became endangered. Norma McCorvey, famously known as Jane Roe, became pregnant for a second time with a child she was unable to care for, she seeked a form of legal abortion in Texas with no luck which lead her to two lawyers who could help bring a lawsuit to assist women in obtaining a legal means for abortion. In the case they used the name Jane Roe to protect her identity and were challenging an attorney from Dallas County Texas, Henry Wade. The case came before the supreme court in 1973, in which the court decision ruled 7 to 2 for abortion to be legal due to the 14th amendment as well as the right to

Jane Roe was the most important participant in this event, but there was also the unborn fetus in her womb that played a significant role. Her lawyers, the two women whom she agreed to help, were Linda Coffee and Sarah Weddington. All three women went up against the defendant, Henry Wade, Dallas District Attorney. Wade’s representatives were Robert Flowers, Jay Floyd, and John Tolle. For a court case to be complete they need a judge—or in this case judges. Judges for the Supreme Court, called Justices for the Court, were Henry A. Blackmun, William J. Brennan, Jr., Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, William O. Douglas, Thurgood Marshall, Lewis F.

Few Supreme Court decisions have stirred up as much controversy, vitriolic debate, and even violence as the one delivered in Roe v. Wade in 1973. Four decades later, it remains a touchstone for the culture wars in the United States and a pivot upon which much of American politics turns. In fact, the authors of “Roe v. Wade: The Abortion Rights Controversy in American History” state that even today, the case (and its companion cases) “remains the most divisive and controversial judicial decision of the twentieth century” (3). Although it is a landmark case in itself, its continuing influence on American law and politics proves that its legacy lives on far beyond its formal resolution in a court of law. Essentially, the most important points are that the cause of the case’s complexity and drama is the legal relationship between men and women that the ruling mirrored and compounded, the way the medical profession was impacted, and the political significance that the issue still holds presently.

The topic of abortion had always been debated heavily but Roe v. Wade sparked a wave of protests and new opinions. The argument over abortion prior to Roe v. Wade is similar to what it is today; there are those who support abortion (pro-choice) and those who don't (pro-life). Of course each has its exceptions to what is viewed as acceptable. Many supported abortion because women went to extremely dangerous lengths to terminate their pregnancies. ¨In 1965, illegal abortions made up one-sixth of all pregnancy- and childbirth-related deaths¨, (Planned Parenthood; Roe v. Wade). Many religious leaders and figures were anti-abortion because of their beliefs, ¨Doe v. Bolton [410 U.S. 179 (1973)] , the Supreme Court ruled that the unborn child is not a ¨person¨ at any time before birth...¨ (The Catholic Advance; A Non-Person).

Many states had conflicting criminal laws due to the debate on whether life begins at conception or at some other point in utero. These debates were based on religious belief systems, state laws, and common law practices. There was no definitive line to be drawn upon when the fetus should be considered a person with rights. Then, in 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in the decision Roe v. Wade that abortions in all states were generally legal and allowed pregnant mothers to receive abortions.

Among the many landmark cases of the United States Supreme Court, Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), still is one of the most controversial and politically significant cases in U.S. Supreme Court history, greatly affecting political elections and decisions concerning women’s rights ever since.

Norma McCorvey was the name she was born with, but to America and to the world she was Jane Roe, a pseudonym for a woman who made abortion legal is all 50 states. Jane Roe was a young, single woman living in Dallas County, Texas, who wanted her pregnancy terminated. However, the state of Texas could not legally allow her an abortion because it wasn’t a life or death situation; a law that had been in place since 1854. Roe, bringing this to the supreme court, argued that this law prohibiting the termination of her pregnancy was a violation of her privacy rights. In the end, Roe was able to overturn this 200 year old standing law and legalize abortion nationwide - but more importantly, this court case’s controversial nature made an impact in

wade involved a female plaintiff and male defendant who changed history by what they claimed. The determined plaintiff was a young pregnant woman named Norma McCorvey. The defendant was the district attorney, Henry Wade. Norma McCorvey told her attorneys that the only way she would go through with the lawsuit was if she used a fake name. Norma McCorvey used the name Jane Roe. McCorvey was under Texas law. Texas law stated she did not have the right to an abortion. McCorvey was not a women with vast amounts of wealth. She could not afford to go to a different area to receive an abortion. Because of this the plaintiff, Roe claimed that the law violated her privacy. She claimed her 1,4,5,9, and 14 amendments were violated. Her claim stated citizens were given rights and privacy. The opponent Henry Wade was against abortion. Roe not only fought for abortion, but for the right of privacy. Meanwhile the case was a conflict for many people. Most people did not want to get involved so tried to remain neutral. A poll was taken on this statement, “The decision to have an abortion should be made solely by a woman and her physician.” The poll showed that 64% of people agreed with this statement. The official ruling of the Supreme Court was said by Mr. Justice Blackmum. The Supreme Court’s final decision was that the laws violate the rights of pregnant women. The Supreme Court’s vote was 7-2. The plaintiff was the winner in this case.

In our government today Congress, the Supreme Court, and the President are all faced with making tough decisions for our country. These decisions are not only decided based off the constitution but the ideological shift as generations go on. Possibly one of the most controversial landmark decisions the government is currently being challenged with is the affair of abortion. In 1973 the Supreme Court of the United States was presented the case of Roe v Wade. The ruling decided a person has the right to privacy protected by the due process clause of the 14th amendment. This gave women the right to decide to have an abortion, but only under regulations from the state. As a result of this case, scientific research was conducted on stem cells starting in 1978 when a scientist discovered stem cells in human cord blood. From 1981 to 1991 scientist tested stem cells in mice, hamsters, and later in primates. 1998 marked an important discovery of pluripotent stem cells in an embryo, which is where the problem lies between the morals and ethics of citizens and the politicians’ jobs to decide for the people what is right for stem cell research.

FACTS The prosecution, Jane Roe, a pregnant single women brought a class action lawsuit in an effort to challenge the laws in Texas surrounding abortion and their constitutionality. Texas laws made it illegal to have an abortion without the medical direction of a medical professional, in which case it would be for the health and well-being of the pregnant mother. The respondents made up of Dr. Hallford who was criminally charged with for violating Texas abortion laws; and a married couple with no children, the Does, who sought to fight the enforcement of Texas abortion laws by the government for being unconstitutional. The defendant was Henry Wade, the county District

Kelly Fadden Business Law Professor Saunders 4/20/2015 Style of Case Roe v. Wade Citation 410 U.S. 114(1973) Factual Background Roe was an unmarried woman looking to get an abortion. The law in Texas, where she lived and the case was decided, was that a woman could get an abortion if, and only if, she was in a life threatening situation because of the pregnancy. Roe brought forth the case to speak on behalf of all women in the same position she herself was. There were also two other cases being brought before the court on the same matter with the plaintiffs being Hallford and the Does. Hallford was a doctor facing criminal charges for performing abortions on three women. The Does were a childless couple who were not expecting, though Mrs. Doe, if she were to become pregnant might face complications,

Roe v. Wade 1973 was a landmark case where the United States ruled it unconstitutional that state law could ban abortion except to save the life of the mother. The Supreme Court ruling was that states were forbidden from outlawing or regulating any aspect of abortion performed during the first trimester of pregnancy and could only regulate abortions regarding maternal health in the second and third trimesters. States were only allowed to enact abortion laws to protect the fetus in the third trimester, but even in the third trimester an exception had to be made to protect the life of the mother (McBride).