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Griswold v. Connecticut
The Connecticut legislature passed a law which outlawed the use of contraceptives, though it had never been enforced. -
United States v. Vuitch
In 1901 Congress passed a law making abortion illegal in the District of Columbia except where necessary for "the preservation of the mother's life or health." The Supreme Court disagreed. The Court concluded that "health" was a clear standard and that it included psychological as well as physical well-being. -
Roe v. Wade
The Supreme Court ruled in favor, saying Texas laws violated constitutional rights to abortion. -
Bigelow v. Virginia
He was convicted under a Virginia law which made it a crime to "encourage or prompt the procuring of abortion." Bigelow filed suit claiming the law violated his First Amendment right to free speech. The Supreme Court agreed. The Court, noting that the First Amendment gives some protection even to commercial speech, concluded the abortion ad was entitled to protection because it promoted services that were legal in New York and contained abortion information of "constitutional interest" -
Connecticut v. Menillo
Protected the right of a non-physician to perform an abortion -
Planned Parenthood v. Danforth
Gave Planned Parenthood the right to not statistically record the amount of abortions committed -
Bellotti v. Baird
A Boston abortion clinic filed suit in federal court claiming the law created a parental veto to abortion and therefore denied minors their constitutional right to abortion. The Supreme Court dismissed the case on the grounds that the law should be reviewed first by a Massachusetts state court. -
Singleton v. Wulff
Court gives abortion doctors standing to file suit against abortion regulations -
Beal v. Doe
Court rules Social Security Act does not require funding of "nontherapeutic" abortions -
Maher v. Roe
Court rules that failure to fund abortion is not a restriction on the abortion right and says states may favor childbirth over abortion through funding allocations -
Harris v. McCrae
Court upholds Hyde Amendment limiting federal abortion funding to life-saving abortions -
H.L. v. Matheson
Court upholds parental notice provision in case of immature minor -
City of Akron v. Akron Center for Reproductive Health
Court invalidates second-trimester hospital requirement, parental consent without judicial bypass, informed consent, waiting period, and "humane" disposal of fetal remains -
Planned Parenthood of Kansas City, MO v. Ashcroft
Court invalidates second-trimester hospital requirement but upholds pathology report, second doctor at post-viability abortions, and parental consent or judicial waiver -
Webster v. Reproductive Health Services
Court rules state funding of abortion is not required and upholds "life begins at conception" preamble