Here’s the story behind both cases, how we got here, and why it still matters.

How Roe v. Wade Began

In 1969, a Texas woman named Norma McCorvey discovered she was pregnant with her third child. At the time, Texas law allowed abortion only in very limited circumstances (such as when the mother’s life was at risk), so she could not obtain an abortion legally.

McCorvey connected with attorneys who wanted to challenge Texas’s abortion law. To protect her identity, the lawsuit used the pseudonym “Jane Roe”—and it was filed against Henry Wade, the Dallas County district attorney.

The legal argument: “privacy”

The attorneys argued that Texas’s abortion restrictions violated a constitutional right to privacy, leaning on earlier Supreme Court reasoning about privacy protections in Griswold v. Connecticut.

Roe in the Courts: What the Supreme Court Decided

In 1970, a federal panel agreed that the Texas law was unconstitutional—but it didn’t immediately stop enforcement. By the time the case reached the Supreme Court, McCorvey had already given birth and placed her baby with an adoptive family.

On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court ruled 7–2 for “Jane Roe.” The Court held that state abortion laws violated a constitutional right to privacy under the Fourteenth Amendment.

Trimesters and “viability”

Roe also introduced a framework built around:

Trimesters, and
“Viability” (the point at which a baby could survive outside the womb)

Under Roe’s logic, states were largely blocked from protecting preborn children before viability, and states that wanted to protect life after viability were pushed toward gestational-limit approaches.

What Roe Changed Nationwide

Roe didn’t only affect Texas—it reshaped abortion law across the country. In practice, the decision replaced many state protections with a national rule tied to viability.

For nearly five decades, abortion policy debates centered on court decisions, legal tests, and constitutional arguments. Meanwhile, women facing unexpected pregnancies continued to search for something very human: help, hope, and someone they can trust.

What Led to Dobbs v. Jackson

In 2018, Mississippi passed the Gestational Age Act, banning most abortions after 15 weeks—earlier than the viability standard that Roe had reinforced. A lawsuit quickly challenged the law, and the case eventually went to the Supreme Court.

Mississippi’s argument was straightforward: abortion is not explicitly protected in the Constitution, and the viability rule had no firm foundation in constitutional text, history, or longstanding tradition.

Dobbs (2022): Roe Overturned, States Regain Authority

On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, holding that the Constitution does not guarantee a right to abortion and overturning Roe v. Wade. The decision returned abortion regulation to states and elected lawmakers.

Dobbs did not end abortion nationwide. Instead, it created a patchwork—where laws differ dramatically from state to state.

Why This Matters Now (For Her)

Legal history matters—but so does her reality.

A woman facing an unexpected pregnancy is often navigating:

fear about the future
pressure from others
confusion about her options
the feeling that she has to decide right now

At Caring Network, we exist so she doesn’t have to walk through that alone. We offer free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and compassionate support—so she can breathe, get accurate information, and take her next step with clarity.

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