Women's choice

By christheghost

  • Griswold v. Connecticut

    A gynecologist at the Yale School of Medicine, opened a birth control clinic in New Haven with Estelle Griswold, who was the head of Planned Parenthood in Connecticut. They were arrested and convicted of violating the law because they were distributing contraception without medical degrees, and their convictions were affirmed by higher state courts. The plan was to use the clinic to challenge the constitutionality of the it under the 14th Amendment before the Supreme Court. 7-2 for Griswold.
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    Roe v. Wade

    An important court case establishing the protection of a women's right to an abortion during her pregnancy.
    Jane Roe (alias) filed for a lawsuit against Henry Wade, the district attorney of Dallas County, Texas, after the proposal of a Texan law that said women weren't allowed abortions unless their doctor said it was medically necessary. Roe argued the law violated her rights granted in the 1st, 4th, 5th, 9th, and 14th amendments. The final decision was 7-2 in favor of Roe.
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    Eisenstadt v. Baird

    Court case on the issue of contraception.
    William Baird gave Emko Vaginal Foam to a woman after his Boston University lecture on birth control and over-population. Massachusetts charged Baird with a felony, to distribute contraceptives to unmarried men or women. Under the law, only married couples were allowed contraceptives and only registered doctors or pharmacists could provide them. Baird was not an authorized distributor of contraceptives. The decision was 6-1 for the state.

  • Planned Parenthood v. Casey

    Among the new provisions of PAs abortion laws, were informed consent and 24 hour waiting period prior to the procedure. A minor seeking an abortion required the consent of a parent. Married women seeking an abortion had to indicate that she notified her husband of the intent to abort. These provisions were challenged by several abortion clinics and physicians. A federal appeals court upheld all the provisions except for the husband notification requirement. 5-4 for Planned Parenthood.