Roe v. Wade 1973

The question

Does the Constitution protect a right to choose abortion?

What the Court held

Yes. The right of privacy under the Due Process Clause covers the decision, subject to state interests that grow over the pregnancy.

The vote

7–2

Later overruled by

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022), 49 years later.

Era

Civil rights and Vietnam

Read the opinion

410 U.S. 113 (1973), full text

This page summarizes the Court’s judgment in neutral terms. The opinion, concurrences and dissents are the authority; read them for the reasoning.