The Supreme Court's decision in the 1972 case of Roe v. Wade was
-- and is still -- the most important decision affecting
abortion in the United States. Roe made it possible for women to
terminate their pregnancies for virtually any reason within
certain gestational time limits. Since Roe, abortion has come
under scrutiny by lawmakers and abortion opponents who have
pushed for stricter abortion laws over the past several decades.
For instance, the 1992 case of Planned Parenthood v. Casey
upheld a woman's right to legal abortion, but imposed state
regulation of other aspects of abortion such as 24-hour waiting
periods, informed consent requirements, parental consent
provisions, and a record keeping mandate. Although legal
abortion still carries, the future of abortion leans toward
stricter boundaries that seem to chip away at the essential
holding of Roe. Below is a summary of abortion laws that
arguably limit a woman's right to have an abortion. For state-
specific information, check your state's abortion laws