Born in Dallas: History of Roe v. Wade

Roe v Wade
Photo credit zimmytws/Getty Images

On a day that will live in the memory of millions of Americans for decades to come as the Supreme Court votes to overturn Roe V. Wade, we look back at the history of this original court case and its roots right here in Dallas.

It began in 1969 when Norma McCorvey - who became known as Jane Roe - and her Dallas attorney, Linda Coffee, filed a suit in a Dallas County District Court against then Dallas County District Attorney Henry Wade, arguing that the Texas laws banning abortion were unconstitutional.

After winning their case in Texas, it was then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court where, in 1973, Roe won in a 7-2 decision.

Central to this case were Coffee and former classmate Sarah Weddington. The latter went on to argue the case twice in the Supreme Court.

Speaking to NBC 5 earlier this year, 79-year-old Coffee spoke of her shock when, out having dinner, she learned of the leaked draft opinion that revealed the Supreme Court's plans to vote on overturning Roe V. Wade.

"I just felt that was awful, and I started turning it on all the channels and they said the same thing," Coffee said. "I thought this was incredible. I didn’t understand how that could happen that someone could leak out an opinion that was just a first draft."

Much of Coffee's concern related to the suggestion that it would be up to each state's own discretion to enforce their rulings on abortions - resulting in an undue burden on women's shoulders, especially those of lesser means.

"A lot of women don’t have the funds to go to, like, if they were going from here to California," Coffee said.

Tonight at 6:00 p.m. KRLD news will present a special program detailing all sides of the issue from the fallout to what will happen going forward.

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Featured Image Photo Credit: zimmytws/Getty Images