Roe v. Wade Was Passed 43 Years Ago. Artwork by Aggie Kenny

Forty three years ago on Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court secured the right for American women to have a legal abortion. In a 7-2 vote, the Court ruled that all women could have an abortion at any stage in their pregnancy, but allowed states to regulate the procedure in women's second and third trimesters. In doing so, the crucial work of tireless activists saved countless women in the U.S. fromunsafe procedures and emboldened them to lead the lives of their choice. 

Solicitor General Fried making argument to the US Supreme Court in Roe v Wade Reaffirmation by Aggie Kenny

The legacy of their work is evident today. The majority of Americans currently support abortion — a procedure that is not only one of the safest medical procedures for women in the United States, according to the Guttmacher Institute, but also a relatively common one. The vast majority of womendon't regret having had one.

Despite these facts, there are many women in the United States for whom abortion is ultimately inaccessible. Here are the many ways in which this legally protected right has not only been chipped away, but demonized. 

For more on this story see link

http://news.yahoo.com/roe-v-wade-passed-43-153300817.html

ROE V WADE DECISION 40 YEARS AGO

 left to right:  Justices Williams Rehnquist( with long brown hair),Harry Blackman, Byron White( ex football player "Whizzer White") Potter Stewart, Warren Burger, William Douglas, Thurgood Marshall,
Lewis Powell, by Aggie Kenny 
Drawing from the collection of the US Supreme Court

Aggie Kenny covered the Supreme Court for over 40 years. This is a drawing of the Burger court that wrote the 1973 decision in Roe v Wade. Kenny made this observation,  the more junior justices sit on the far ends and as justices retire they move closer to the middle, nearest the chief justice. William Rehnquist is seated far left, with long flowing brown hair, not the typical way he is remembered.  Justice Sotomayer now sits in the seat that Justice Rehnquist first occupied.

Kenny also covered the reaffirmation of Roe v Wade later in 1988 which was argued by Solicitor General Freid. 

Here is a link to a story about the 1972 Roe v Wade argument, made  by a 26 year old Sara Weddington from Texas.      Winning Roe v Wade, Q and A.

Also another story about the impact of  the 40 year old Roe v Wade decision.

Roe v Wade Turns 40