History of Abortion
Abortion has been a taboo issue for thousands of years, from wealthy Roman women who wanted to cover their affairs or to poor mothers who could not afford more children. There has always been a demand for abortion just like there has always been a demand for hitmen. The case for legalized abortion came to the United States Supreme Court in 1973 when a pregnant, single woman (Roe) challeneged the constitutioinality of the Texas anti-abortion laws. Lawyer Sarah Weddington argued the case for Roe twice, while Jay Floyd argued the case for Texas first, followed by Robert Flowers in the second argument. The Court heard arguments twice due to issues with the first arguments. The second time around, Texas lawyer Robert Flowers came under intense questioning by Justices Potter Stewart and Thurgood Marshall. The final decision of the Court stated that a woman's right to an abortion came within the right to privacy which is protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. Thus, this decision gave a woman a right to an abortion regardless of how far along the pregnancy was.
Majority:
Blackmun(for the Court), Brennan, Powell, Marshall T.
Concurring: Burger, Douglas, Stewart
Dissenting: Rehnquist, White B.