The Supreme Court Confronts Abortion: The Briefs, Argument, and Decision in Planned Parenthood V. Casey

In June 1992, accompanied by the clamor of pro-choice and anti-abortion demonstrations, the Supreme Court made its most significant statement to date about the right to an abortion under the Constitution in its decision in Planned Parenthood v. Casey.The legal attack on a restrictive Pennsylvania law requiring parental consent, a twenty-four-hour waiting period, and spousal notification produced one of the more important constitutional confrontations in our history. Numerous parties - historians, doctors, representatives of minority groups, religious opponents, as well as the Justice Department - submitted amicus briefs presenting their position on the controversy. The lawyers for the parties examined the legal underpinnings and constitutional background to the abortion right in analytic briefs. They also presented their position in an oral argument before the Supreme Court.The final Supreme Court decision is a remarkable statement about the state of the law, the nature of constitutional determinations, the role of the Court in our democratic society, and the Justices' personal agony about the abortion controversy.The legal record collected in this book not only examines the legal and constitutional implications but constitutes a valuable resource laying out the historical record on abortion, the medical issues, and the impact of the decision on minorities and religious groups.Fascinating to read, the Supreme Court record is essential for anyone concerned about the political and social impact of restricting the right to an abortion.