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Norma McCorvey sought to terminate unwanted pregnancy
In 1969, a woman named Norma McCorvey was living in impoverished conditions, and was carrying a baby she didn't want. She had previously given birth to two children, having given both of them up for adoption. At this time, abortion was legal in Texas only for the purpose of saving the woman's life. -
Jane Roe finds Lawyers
Also in 1969, Norma McCorvey (or Jane Roe) attempted to get an illegal abortion and failed. Afterward, she was referred to Texas attorneys Linda Coffee and Sarah Weddington. Both were interested in challenging abortion laws. (Pictured is Sarah Weddington) -
Lawsuit is Filed
Jane Roe and her attorneys filed a lawsuit against Henry Wade, district attorney of Dallas County Texas, where Jane lived. Henry had received media attention back in 1964 when he prosecuted Jack Ruby, the man who killed Lee Harvey Oswald, who was President John F. Kennedy's assassin. -
District Court Sides with Jane
After taking Henry Wade to court, it was decided by the Texas District Court that Texas' anti-abortion laws were, in fact, illegal because they violated a constitutional right to privacy guaranteed in the 14th Amendment. However, after this decision, Wade declared that he would continue to prosecute doctors who performed abortions despite the Court's decision. -
Supreme Court Grants Writ of Cert.
The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case of Jane Roe V. Henry Wade in 1971 -
Case is Argued
Arguments for the case were heard on December 13th, 1971. -
A decision is made
On January 22nd, 1973, the Supreme Court decided in favor of Jane Roe and a woman's right to having an abortion under the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. -
Jane Roe Files for a Motion
In 2003, Jane Roe had changed her opinion on the decision and filed a request to the US District Court in Dallas to have the previous decision from 1973 to be overturned. She cited new evidence she found that abortion hurt women. -
Jane's Motion is Dismissed
In September of 2004, Jane Roe's motion to overturn Roe V. Wade was dismissed by a three-judge panel from the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.