38 Years of Roe

In perhaps its most divisive and controversial decision since Dred Scott, the Supreme Court overturned the infanticide and homicide laws in abortion cases in all fifty states by legalizing child-killing procedures from the moment of conception until just before the moment of birth. Delivered on January 22, 1973 the Roe v. Wade decision sent shock waves throughout the nation--the effects of which are still felt. In a remarkably argued majority opinion, Associate Justice Blackmun introduced several creative constitutional innovations--including a heretofore unrecognized “right to privacy.” Like the infamous Dred Scott slavery decision before it, this case actually only exacerbated the debate the court set out to resolve.

Interestingly, in 1996 Norma McCorvey, the woman named as “Jane Roe” in the case, asked the Supreme Court to reverse their ruling in light of the fact that the case was based on fraudulent evidence. The court declined.

38 years, 52 million lives, and culture in tatters: this is the sad legacy of Roe v. Wade.