What did the Supreme Court decide in Roe v. Wade?

The Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade centered on the right to privacy, a fundamental principle derived from the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. In this landmark case, the Court held that a woman has the constitutional right to make decisions about her own body, including the choice to have an abortion. The ruling effectively legalized abortion across the United States, emphasizing that this right is particularly strong during the first trimester of pregnancy.

The Court recognized that the right to privacy is broad enough to encompass a woman’s decision regarding her pregnancy, weighing this right against the state's interests in regulating abortions as the pregnancy progresses. This outcome established a framework that continues to influence abortion laws and reproductive rights discussions to this day. The decision highlighted the importance of autonomy and personal decision-making in matters of health and family, setting a precedent for subsequent cases relating to privacy and bodily autonomy.