Roe v. Crawford
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
514 F.3d 789 (2008)
- Written by Angela Patrick, JD
Facts
Before 2005, the Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC) provided transportation for female prisoners to offsite medical facilities to obtain elective abortions. The DOC then changed its policy to prohibit transporting any female prisoner for an abortion unless the prisoner’s health or life was at risk and the procedure was approved by both the prison’s medical director and the DOC’s regional medical director. Female prisoner Jane Roe (plaintiff) sued DOC director Larry Crawford (defendant) in federal district court, alleging that the new policy was unconstitutional. Crawford argued the policy reduced flight risks and prison costs by eliminating trips for optional medical procedures and reduced security risks by avoiding interactions with aggressive protestors outside abortion clinics. The court granted summary judgment for Roe, holding that the policy was invalid because it (1) unreasonably restricted female prisoners’ constitutional rights under the Fourteenth Amendment to terminate a pregnancy and (2) violated the Eighth Amendment. Crawford appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Riley, J.)
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