Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Decision

The United States Supreme Court issued a 7-2 decision establishing a constitutional right to abortion. The Court ruled that the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment provides a "right to privacy" protecting a pregnant woman's right to choose whether to have an abortion. The case invalidated many state and federal abortion laws and established a framework based on pregnancy trimesters, allowing state regulation after fetal viability. The decision remained in effect for nearly 50 years until overturned in 2022.