January 22: Roe v. Wade Decision (1973)
Prayer Idea
Pray for all unborn babies, their mothers and fathers, and people who provide support and medical care for them.
History Note
On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in the case of Roe v. Wade. A majority of justices (7-2) decided that the 14th Amendment protects the right of a woman to make a private decision about her pregnancy. The court set different limits on the ability of state governments to regulate abortion in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy.
In his dissent from the majority opinion, Justice Byron White said:
As an exercise of raw judicial power, the Court perhaps has authority to do what it does today; but in my view its judgment is an improvident and extravagant exercise of the power of judicial review that the Constitution extends to this Court.
The Supreme Court dealt with several other cases related to abortion over the years, but a major change came in 2022 with the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. In a 6-3 decision, the justices overturned the previous decision of the court in Roe v. Wade. The court decided that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion and that state governments can restrict the practice.
This photo shows people outside the U.S. Supreme Court building on December 21, 2021, when the court heard arguments in the Dobbs case. Photo by Rena Schild / Shutterstock.com
Learn More
In this video, Dr. Ben Carson speaks bluntly about the reality of abortion as he discusses the development of his pro-life perspective.
Find more resources about the U.S. Supreme Court and the legality of abortion at Homeschool History.
