Question

1. Discuss the Supreme Court’s decisions in Webster v. Reproductive Services (1989) and Casey v. Planned Parenthood (1992). A. How did each case change or reinterpret the Roe v. Wade decision? B. How did each case uphold Roe v. Wade or leave that ruling unchanged?

Answer 1

Webster v. Reproductive Services was a Supreme Court case that upheld a Missouri law which placed restrictions of how state funds could be utilized for abortions. This case originated in Missouri. This case upheld restrictions that were viewed as unlikely in Roe v. Wade. In Casey v. Planned Parenthood is was ruled that the state can regulate abortions up to the point of fetal viability (the moment when a fetus could live outside of the womb). In Roe, the state could not regulate any aspect of the abortion process. While Roe v. Wade remains in force, these cases provide specific guidance as it relates to the role of the state in this process.