Bellotti v. Baird
United States Supreme Court
443 U.S. 622 (1979)
- Written by Megan Petersen, JD
Facts
A Massachusetts law required parental notice and consent for any unmarried minor seeking an abortion in the state. If one or both of the minor's parents refused consent, the law provided an alternative procedure whereby the minor could obtain an abortion by appearing before a judge and receiving approval for the procedure. However, the law required parental notification before a physician could perform the procedure. Baird (plaintiff) brought a class action suit on behalf of pregnant minors in federal district court against Bellotti, who was the state attorney general, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (defendants) challenging the constitutionality of the statute as a violation of Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973). The district court invalidated the statute as unconstitutional, and Bellotti appealed to the United States Supreme Court.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Powell, J.)
Concurrence (Stevens, J.)
Concurrence (Rehnquist, J.)
Dissent (White, J.)
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