Roe v. Wade (1973) was a US Supreme Court decision that ruled the Constitution protected a right to have an abortion. The ruling struck down many abortion laws and caused an ongoing debate about the legality of abortion. The Supreme Court’s decision was heavily controversial and criticized, with some calling the decision a form of judicial activism. In June 2022, the Supreme Court overruled the result of Roe v. Wade.
Political opinions split following Roe v. Wade. Several federal bills and state laws were passed after the decision to define the legal extent of abortion. The case became a part of a long line of decisions regarding personal liberty and privacy, resulting in a foundation for individual liberty cases concerning privacy.