JANUARY 22

On this date in 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States handed down its decision in the case of Roe v Wade.  The decision was won in favor of Roe by a 7-2 margin and effectively legalized elective abortion in all fifty states.  This same day they also ruled in a similar manner on a similar case Doe v Bolton - this case in the state of Georgia. 

Roe is short for Jane Roe.  This was a pseudonym used for Norma L. McCorvey, age 21, of Dallas, Texas.   She became pregnant in 1969 and didn't want the child.  Texas law prohibited abortion except in the case of danger to the life of the mother.  Wade, is Henry Wade, the County District Attorney in Dallas who represented the State of Texas.  Prior to the case being settled, McCorvey delivered a healthy baby boy and put him up for adoption. 

Forty-five years ago today -

🚼😢