Court Case1973
Roe v. Wade Decision
The Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that the Constitution protects a woman's right to choose to have an abortion, striking down many state and federal abortion restrictions. The decision was overturned by Dobbs v. Jackson in 2022.
Why It Matters
For nearly 50 years, this decision shaped reproductive rights policy and remained one of the most debated Supreme Court rulings in American history, influencing elections and judicial appointments.