Term Paper on "Wade vs. Roe Abortion"

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Roe v. Wade: An Enduring Constitutional Controversy

Socio-political Background of Case

In the years preceding the landmark case of Roe v. Wade in 1973, the United States underwent a great deal of social upheaval (Cohen, 2005). Much of this upheaval pertained to fighting for attainment of civil rights: African-Americans fought to be treated equally and even subsections of the poor mobilized to stand up against unfair treatment under the law (Quadagno, 1994). As individuals mobilized to obtain equal rights, there was also another kind of revolution taking place: a revolution wherein previously constricted norms regarding sex were being eroded by the sexual revolution (Legacy). For example, some women in the United States finally had access to birth control pills as of 1960, and some states allowed for abortions to take place during the first trimester (Cohen, 2005). Despite the revolutionary activity that was taking place in the area of civil rights and the gradually increase in sexual freedom, women in many states still faced great difficulty in procuring safe abortions. Consequently, many women had illegal as well as unsafe abortions which were performed in unsanitary conditions at best (Legacy). The law at this time had a disproportionate impact upon poor women whom could not afford to travel to another state to receive medical treatment. Furthermore, the laws outlawing abortion in certain states were vague thereby leaving many doctors unclear as to whether or not they were breaking the law when providing patients with an abortion. As a result, a movement began wherein people questioned whether the government had a right to interfere with their own reproductive concerns. The

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se individuals asserted that the laws banning abortion and birth control constituted an invasion of privacy (Legacy).

Facts and Procedural Background of Case

The case of Roe v. Wade was argued on behalf of plaintiff (Jane Roe, an alias), a pregnant single woman whom brought a class action suit challenging the constitutionality of a Texas criminal statute which essentially disallowed abortion except upon medical advice for the specific purpose of saving the mother's life. On the plaintiff's side, Dr. Hallford, a licensed physician with two pending state abortion prosecutions, intervened. Additionally, a childless married couple (the Does), attacked the state laws separately alleging future possible injury based upon contraceptive failure, pregnancy, unpreparedness for parenting, and impairment of wife's health. Roe specifically asserted that the Texas state abortion law, which made it a felony to abort a fetus unless on medical advice for purpose of saving the mother's life, violated the Fourteenth Amendment which provides equal protection of the laws and a guarantee of personal liberty, and violated a woman's right to privacy as implicitly guaranteed in the First, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, and Fourteenth Amendments (Legacy). On the other hand, the state argued that the constitutional right to privacy which has been recognized by the Court did not protect these plaintiffs because that right is not an absolute right. The cases of Roe and the Does were consolidated. At the District Court level, the Does complaint was deemed not justiciable while the Court held on behalf of plaintiff Roe that relief was warranted and the abortion statutes were void due to vagueness since the statutes "overbroadly" infringed upon plaintiffs' Ninth and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The appellants (Does) directly appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the injunctive rulings; and, the appellee Wade, the district attorney of Dallas County, Texas, cross-appealed from the District Court's granting of declaratory relief to Roe and Dr. Hallford (Roe v. Wade, 1973).

Appellants' Arguments at the Supreme Court Level in Roe v. Wade

At the Supreme Court level, the appellant argued that a woman's constitutional right to privacy is absolute and based thereon she should be therefore be entitled to abort her pregnancy at whatever time and in whatever way and for whatever reason she so chooses. Specifically, appellant contended that the Texas laws improperly invade a right of pregnant women to choose to keep or to terminate her pregnancy. Appellant also argued that the state does not have a valid interest in regulating a woman's abortion decision (Legacy).

Appellant's Arguments at the Supreme Court Level

Appellant Ward argued that there was no right to an abortion in the Constitution; and, there is nothing in the record that reveals that the framers of the Constitution ever intended for the Fourteenth Amendment to be used for such a purpose. Additionally, Appellant asserted that the case utilized to support the right of privacy protected marital privacy, not the right to have sex. Appellants also argued in the alternative by contending that even if the right to privacy is applied to this case, Texas has a compelling state interest to regulate abortion procedures. This is especially true according to the appellants because a fetus is a "person" within the meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment; thus, there argument follows that a statute permitting abortions would "deprive" a person of "life" (Exploring).

Opinion of the Court Recognizing a Woman's Right to Privacy

The Supreme Court held in favor of appellants and Justice Blackmun wrote the majority opinion for which Chief Justice Burger and Justices Douglas, Brennan, Stewart, Marshall and Powell joined (Roe v. Wade). The Court noted that the Constitution does not explicitly mention a right to privacy, but the Court has recognized the right of personal privacy based upon the Fourteenth Amendment's concept of personal liberty and restrictions of state action as well as upon the Ninth Amendment's reservation of rights to the people as the lower court held. Furthermore, Justice Blackmun noted that this right is broad enough to include a woman's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy. In examining the detriment imposed by the state should the Court deny plaintiff's alleged right, the Court noted that the harm imposed upon a woman by forcing her to have a child is apparent and ranges from the additional psychological strain of having a child as well as the economic burden and the possible stigma of becoming an unwedded mother. In fact, these considerations would be discussed by a woman and her physician and they should be protected under the right of privacy. While the Court found in favor of the appellee, the Court specifically noted that this is not an absolute right and that there may be times, such as later in pregnancy, when the state may assert an interest in the future upon the interest of safeguarding health, maintaining medical standards, and protecting potential life (Legacy; Roe v. Wade).

Dissenting Opinion of the Court

Justice Rehnquist dissented with the majority based upon several constitutional arguments. First, the Court's ruling pertained to a woman's right to terminate her pregnancy during the first trimester; however, none of the parties were currently in their first trimester. Secondly, assuming that there was a plaintiff with standing or that was qualified to sue, Justice Rehnquist would rule against the majority since in his opinion, the "right" to privacy is not implicated in this case. Additionally, the type of situation in which the Court has granted a privacy right (i.e., Fourth Amendment freedom from unreasonable search and seizure) are not remotely similar to the facts in the present case. Moreover, Justice Rehnquist does not believe that the majority acted within its purview or its right since they had to carve a right out of the Fourteenth Amendment that even the founders did not intend to create (Roe v. Wade).

Reaction to Roe v. Wade

Instead of ending the debate over the legality of abortion in the United States, the holding of the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade has actually intensified the debate and has made it a national issue as opposed to a state issue (Legacy). In fact, it is not uncommon for protestors of the decision in Roe v. Wade to organize protests against the right to choose and, moreover, to stage these protests within steps of the hospital's or doctor's or clinic's door (Raymond, 1990). Finally, there are many people whom feel morally obligated to challenge this ruling. Some of these individuals even advocate killing doctors whom perform abortions. As such, it is clear that as a society we have not come to an agreement on the issues, constitutional or otherwise, that have been raised by the holding in Roe v. Wade.

If I Were a Justice on the Supreme Court

Prior to reading the actual case of Roe v. Wade, I believed that I would not hesitate during this portion of the paper: "Of course I agree with Roe v. Wade because a woman has a right to choose." This preliminary response of mine is based upon my emotions and my personal outlook that a woman should have the right to make decisions about her body without the influence of the state. Furthermore, as a citizen of a nation that defends democracy and freedom worldwide, I believe that based upon principal alone our highest court should not restrict what a woman can or cannot do. Indeed, I do not want… READ MORE

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Quoted Instructions for "Wade vs. Roe Abortion" Assignment:

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The research must be based on at least five primary sources (books and articles on the topics) not more

than two of which may be internet postings (An article that you find on the internet is fine, but only two

blogs or other non-published sources). Wikipedia does NOT count as a primary source and should not be

used. Your essay should summarize, synthesize and evaluate the research from the various sources and

then form an independent answer of your own to the question you are asking based on your research and

analysis.

The paper must be at least six (6) pages in length but not greater than eight (8) pages. It must be typed,

double spaced, with 1 inch margins. Papers must be stapled in the upper left hand corner. Paper clips,

binders, duo-tangs, folders or other covers/holders for the paper are not permitted.

Papers will be evaluated on both the quality of ideas, arguments, and evidence presented and on the

quality of style, grammar, and organization of the paper. I highly recommend purchasing Strunk and

White*****s The Elements of Style. This book will help improve the quality of your papers, and it will also

come in useful throughout your college career.

Papers must include proper citations for material taken from your sources including both direct

quotations and information that you paraphrase. The citation should include the author*****s last name and

publication date (i.e., Mishler, 1999). A list of all sources used in the paper should be included at the end

of the paper giving the author*****s full name, date of publication, source title, publisher or internet URL.

TOPIC FOR PAPER:

The Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade establishing the circumstances under which women

have a right to an abortion remains among the most controversial decisions the Court has ever

made. Write an essay in which you explain the reasoning that the Court used in making its

decision in the case? What LEGAL/CONSTITUTIONAL arguments do critics of the decision

make? What do you think? Write an essay in which your evaluate the legal (not the moral or

political) arguments for and against the decision in R0e v. Wade. If you were a justice how

would you vote on the case and why?

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