Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Oral Arguments

This video originally aired on Saturday, January 19, 2008.

About This Video

On December 13, 1971, Sarah Weddington, the attorney representing Jane Roe and Jay Floyd, Texas Assistant Attorney General, argued whether a Texas law that prohibited abortion violated the Constitution.

Discussion Questions

  1. Research the background of Roe v. Wade. Why did this court case end up on the Supreme Court docket?
  2. Which sections of the Constitution does Ms. Weddington cite to support a woman’s right to have an abortion? Do you agree with her interpretation of the Constitution? Why or why not?
  3. How does Mr. Floyd extend his interpretation of the Constitutional right of privacy to abortion?
  4. What was the Court’s ruling? How did this ruling impact the United States? If you were a justice, how would you have ruled?
  5. Why is Roe v. Wade being discussed in the 2008 presidential elections?

Keywords

Abortion, JUDICIAL, Landmark Court Decisions, U.S. Supreme Court

Related Subjects/Topics

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Civil Liberties
  • U.S. Constitution
  • U.S. History

Speakers

  • Jay Floyd
  • Sarah Weddington