Roe v Wade
On May 22, 1970, Norma McCorvey (known as “Jane Roe”) filed a lawsuit against Henry Wade challenging abortion limitation laws in Texas (Oyez). Roe v. Wade serves as a landmark in the Supreme Court for women’s rights and reproductive rights. In court, McCorvey argued that the restrictive state of abortion laws were unconstitutional and needed to be changed. The Supreme Court ultimately made the rule that the right to abortion should be protected under the 14th amendment of the right to privacy in a 7-2 rule in January, 1973. However in June of 2022, the case was overturned, claiming that a woman’s constitutional right to abortion should not be constitutional after all.
Today, Roe v. Wade acts as a catalyst for debates over women’s rights and has prompted many discussions about the ethical and moral concept of abortion (Britannica). The overturning of this case caused a near-total ban of abortion in many US states including, Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Oklahoma (Guttmacher Institute). As it remains, abortion is a sensitive topic for many individuals and the overturning of this case has made more citizens aware of the importance of advocacy. Since June, 2022, the overturning of Roe v. Wade has faced criticism from the majority of the US (Pew Research Center) claiming that it is unconstitutional. It is to be predicted that abortion rights would heavily influence the 2024 presidential election as there has been a rise in Democratic candidates (Craig Palosky, KFF).
Beyond the scope of politics, Roe v. Wade remains a widely debated topic as many people hold strong opinions, perspectives, and moral stances over the case. This fifty year old case remains today as a relevant example of the difference between law and liberty, making it a major contributor in how society interprets the constitution.
By Bianca Shen