In the 70’s a pregnant single woman (Roe) brought a class action challenging the constitutionality of the Texas criminal abortion laws, which proscribe procuring or attempting an abortion except on medical advice for the for the purpose of saving the mother’s life. In the 1960’s there was no federal law regulating abortions, and many states had banned the practice entirely, except when the life of the mother was endangered. Because women were not allowed to get abortions, it led many women of the time to seek black market abortions by unlicensed physicians or to perform the procedure themselves. As a result, several states such as California and New York began to legitimize abortions. Because abortions related to the feminist movement, women’s groups looked for the opinion of the United States Supreme Court. The anonymous Jane Roe Challenged the Texas law on December 13, 1971, the case slowly made its way to the highest court. After Two long years of the Jurors hearing evidence, the court invalidated the Texas law by a vote. The same system was used in the decision of the Griswold vs. Connecticut vs. decision; the right to privacy was implied by the 9th and 14th Amendments which the majority of the justices maintained. No state could have restrictions on abortions during the 1st three months, or trimester of a pregnancy. States from there on out were permitted to adopt restrictive laws, respecting the mothers health during the 2nd trimester. The practice could be banned outright during the 3rd trimester. Any state law that conflicted with this ruling was automatically overturned. Although women rights groups were thrilled, immediately an opposition emerged. The Roman Catholic churches had long criticized abortions as a form…
