A look at 50 years of Supreme Court abortion decisions

By: The Associated Press Posted: Last Modified:

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WASHINGTON (AP) — A look at some of the Supreme Court's major abortion rulings over the last 50 years. During that time, the court's membership and views on abortion regulations have changed.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/06/2022 (1589 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A look at some of the Supreme Court’s major abortion rulings over the last 50 years. During that time, the court’s membership and views on abortion regulations have changed.

1973 — The court legalizes abortion nationwide in the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.

1976 — The court strikes down a Missouri law requiring a married woman to get her husband’s consent for an abortion.

A celebration outside the Supreme Court, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Washington. The Supreme Court has ended constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years — a decision by its conservative majority to overturn the court's landmark abortion cases. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
A celebration outside the Supreme Court, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Washington. The Supreme Court has ended constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years — a decision by its conservative majority to overturn the court's landmark abortion cases. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

1986 — The court strikes down portions of a Pennsylvania law it said attempted to intimidate women into continuing pregnancies by, among other things, requiring them to be told the risks associated with abortion.

1989 — The court declines to overrule Roe but allows more state regulation of abortion.

1992 — The court reaffirms its decision in Roe and says states can’t ban abortion before viability, the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb, around 24 weeks of pregnancy.

2000 — The court strikes down a Nebraska law that barred an abortion procedure used during the second trimester of pregnancy. The law didn’t have an exception to the ban for the health of the pregnant woman.

2007 — In a decision weakening Roe, the court upholds the 2003 Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act passed by Congress, which is similar to Nebraska’s law.

A Police officer leads a K9 around steel fencing and barricades surrounding the Supreme Court, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
A Police officer leads a K9 around steel fencing and barricades surrounding the Supreme Court, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)

2016 — In its strongest defense of abortion rights in 25 years, the court strikes down Texas rules forcing clinics to meet hospital-like standards and doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.

2020 — A more conservative court strikes down a Louisiana law nearly identical to the Texas one it struck down in 2016.

2021 — The court declines to take emergency action and allows a Texas law banning abortion beginning at around six weeks to take effect.

2022 — The court overturns Roe v. Wade, ending constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years.

___

Abortion right activists gather outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Friday, June 24, 2022. The Supreme Court has ended constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years, a decision by its conservative majority to overturn the court's landmark abortion cases. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Abortion right activists gather outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Friday, June 24, 2022. The Supreme Court has ended constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years, a decision by its conservative majority to overturn the court's landmark abortion cases. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

For AP’s full coverage of the Supreme Court ruling on abortion, go to https://apnews.com/hub/abortion.

This combination of Friday, June 24, 2022, photos taken outside the Supreme Court in Washington shows abortion-rights activists protesting following Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, at left, and anti-abortion activists celebrating following Supreme Court's decision, at right. The Supreme Court has ended the nation's constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years in a decision by its conservative majority to overturn Roe v. Wade. (AP Photo)
This combination of Friday, June 24, 2022, photos taken outside the Supreme Court in Washington shows abortion-rights activists protesting following Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, at left, and anti-abortion activists celebrating following Supreme Court's decision, at right. The Supreme Court has ended the nation's constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years in a decision by its conservative majority to overturn Roe v. Wade. (AP Photo)

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The Supreme Court, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

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