ROE vs. WADE

Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113

"The Supreme Court case that held that the Constitution protected a woman’s right to an abortion prior to the viability of the fetus. 

The case involved a Texas statute that prohibited abortion except when necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman. The Supreme Court, in a decision written by Justice Blackmun, recognized a privacy interest in abortions. In doing so, the court applied the right to privacy established in Griswold v Connecticut (1965). At stake in this matter was the fundamental right of a woman to decide whether or not to terminate her pregnancy. The underlying values of this right included decisional autonomy and physical consequences (i.e., the interest in bodily integrity)."

--excerpt from the Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute

Roe vs. Wade and the abortion debate has been a hot-button issue for decades. As the landmark case faces reversal, this guide will provide history, research resources, case law, news, and opinion pieces on both Roe v. Wade and abortion in general. If you need any help with your research or this guide, please contact me or any of the Bristol Reference Librarians.