Supreme Court Explorer
Roe v. Wade
410 U.S. 113
Holding / constitutional rule
Recognized a federal constitutional right to abortion under substantive due process, subject to a trimester framework later modified by subsequent cases.
Why it matters
The decision governed federal constitutional abortion doctrine for decades before being overruled by Dobbs in 2022.
Connected Research
Government research source
Constitution Annotated / CRS search →
The holding and significance above are concise editorial summaries, not quotations from the opinion. Follow the government source to review constitutional analysis and underlying case authorities.