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1821
Connecticut passed the first state law that made an abortion a criminal offense in 1821. -
1900
In the United States every state had passed abortion legislation by 1900. Abortion was considered a common law offense, but sometimes it was considered a criminal offense. -
How it began
The case began in 1970 when Norma McCorvey (under the name of Jane Roe) sued the state of Texas which was represented by District Attourney Henry Wade. The matter at hand was the Texas state law that banned abortion except in cases that concerned the life of someone. -
The Ruling
A three judge pannel consisting of Sarah T. Jughes, William McLaughlin Taylor Jr., and Irving Loeb Goldberg declared the abortion law in Texas unconstitutional. They founf it violated the right to privacy that is stated in the ninth amendment. -
Round 1
There was an appeal of the decision from the district court, and therefore caused the case into the first round of arguments in the Supreme court. -
Moving to the courts
The case moves to the Supreme court. -
The final decision
In a 7-2 decision, the U.S. Supreme cout legalized a woman's right to have an abortion under the 14th amendment. -
The Death of Henry Wade
He was the District Attourney of Dallas County from 1951-1987. He was sued by Norma McCorvey because he was enforcing a law that denied abortion to women, unless it was to save their life. -
The second time around
Norma McCorvey files to the U.S. district court in Dallas that her case should be overturned because having an abortion harms women. She included 1,000 written statements from different women saying that they regret ever having an abortion. -
September 14, 2004
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orlease composed a three-judge panel to dismiss a motion from the original plaintiff in Roe v. Wade to have the case overturned. McCorvey came out with new information that would affect the 1973 court case. -
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