Title: Roe v. Wade - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Headings: Roe v. Wade
Roe v. Wade
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Contents
Background
The majority decision
Dissenting opinion
Understanding Roe v. Wade
Right to privacy interpretation
Trimester concept
References
Other websites

Content: This affected the laws of 46 states. Justice Harry Blackmun wrote the majority opinion. “ We … acknowledge our awareness of the sensitive and emotional nature of the abortion controversy, of the vigorous opposing views, even among physicians, and of the deep and seemingly absolute convictions that the subject inspires.” — Justice Blackmun (1973). Dissenting opinion
The dissenting opinion was written by Justice William Rehnquist. He objected to the majority decision giving several reasons. He first pointed out there was no legitimate plaintiff in the case and that was a requirement to hear the case. A legitimate plaintiff would be a woman in her first trimester of her pregnancy at some point while the case was being tried. McCorvey (Jane Roe) did not fit that qualification and so the ruling had no application to the case. The court recognized a woman's right to abortion under the general "right to privacy from previous cases.