Report Inappropriate Comments

Roe v. Wade 1973 On the bench at the time were

Chief Justice Warren E. Burger [1969-1986, Nixon appt], and associate justices,

William O. Douglas [1939-1975 Roosevelt appt],

William J. Brennan Jr. [1956-1990 Eisenhower appt],

Potter Stewart [1958-1981 Eisenhower appt], Byron White [1962-1993 Kennedy appt],

Thurgood Marshall [1967- 1991 Johnson appt],

Harry Blackmun [1959-1970 Eisenhower appt], Lewis F. Powell Jr. [1972-1987 Nixon appt] and William Rehnquist [1986-2005 Reagan appt].

The decision was 7-2. White & Rehnquist wrote the dissenting view.

“ In Roe v. Wade (1973), the Supreme Court held that the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause “protects against state action the right to privacy, including a woman’s qualified right to terminate her pregnancy,” and that “though the State cannot override that right, it has legitimate interests in protecting both the pregnant woman’s health and the potentiality of human life.” Striking this balance of interests, Roe v. Wade effectively stopped the enforcement of many state laws that banned ******** before 24 weeks. The Supreme Court later reaffirmed in Planned Parenthood v. Casey that “the fundamental right of privacy protects citizens against governmental intrusion in such intimate family matters” and that a state law would violate the Due Process Clause if it creates an “undue burden” on a pregnant person’s right to choose.”

For Half a century this decision has been chipped away at.

The Justices that wrote the Roe V. Wade decision were experienced officers of the court. More than half Republican appointees.

During his confirmation hearings, Justice Kavanaugh told Senator Susan Collins that the Supreme Court's decisions "become part of our legal framework with the passage of time." He also said honoring prior Supreme Court decisions is essential to maintaining public confidence in the Court.

Can the Supreme Court get things wrong? Sure. Several decisions from the Court's early history would not hold up in today's society. But the Supreme Court generally doesn't invalidate its own decisions - it just makes new ones. However, the Mississippi ******** statute presented the conservative justices on the court with a unique opportunity to overturn precedent. It remains to be seen how this decision will affect public opinion of the court, given that recent polls show that 80% of Americans support the right to ******** in at least some cir***stances. By Laura Temme, Esq. | Reviewed by Bridget Molitor, J.D. | Last updated July 06, 2022

From: Out of tune | Tom Camfield

Please explain the inappropriate content below.