What does the Roe vs. Wade decision protect?

The Roe v. Wade decision, issued by the Supreme Court in 1973, is a landmark ruling that established a woman's legal right to choose to have an abortion. The Court determined that the right to privacy, which is implied by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, extends to a woman's decision to terminate her pregnancy. This decision effectively legalized abortion across the United States, providing women with autonomy over their reproductive choices, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy.

The ruling emphasizes the balance between a woman's right to make decisions about her own body and the state's interest in regulating abortions as the pregnancy advances. This case is pivotal in the context of reproductive rights and highlights the intersection of individual liberties and governmental interests, making it a foundational precedent in discussions surrounding women’s health and reproductive freedoms.