Roe v. Wade

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, in 1973, a pregnant women identified as 'Roe' brought a class action before the U.S. Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the criminal abortion laws in Texas, which banned seeking or attempting an abortion except in order to save the life of the mother. The paper relates the majority, concurring and dissenting opinions as presented by each judge. The paper concludes that the principle of this case is within the framework of the Fourteenth Amendment due process rights of an individual and whether those rights were being violated by the statutes of the States of Texas and Georgia relating to the right of a pregnant woman to have an abortion.

Table of Contents:
Character of Action
Facts
Issues
Decision
Majority Opinion
Concurring Opinion
Justice Blackman
Justice Stewart
Chief Justice Burger
Justice Douglas
Dissenting Opinions
Justice Rehnquist
Justice White
Comment
Principle

From the Paper:

"In this case the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the statutes of the state of Georgia and Texas were overly restrictive in relation to the rights of the pregnant woman and the control that the woman has over her own life to choose to follow through with a pregnancy and particularly in relation to health status. Of the Justices that dissented in this matter, it was held Justice Rehnquist that at the time of the framing of the Fourteenth Amendment there were 36 laws that placed restrictions on abortions and that there was not, within the framework of the Constitution a right to an abortion."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Roe, et al v. Wade 410 U.S. 113 Supreme Court of the United States January 22, 1973. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. No. 70-18. http://www.members.aol.com/abtrbng/410us113.htm

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• Essay # 137554 : "On the Relatioship between the Civil Rights Movement and Roe v. Wade"
• Analytical Essay # 128696 : "The Evolution of "Roe v. Wade"

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