Michael W. McConnell

About the author: Michael W. McConnell is a professor of constitutional law at the University of Utah.

The Supreme Court's decision to legalize abortion in 1973 is not based on constitutional law. The Court alleges that the right to abortion falls under a constitutionally protected right of privacy, but no such right is mentioned in the Constitution. Moreover, the Court states that it cannot determine when life begins but implicitly denies that the fetus is a person by refusing to protect its life. Most Americans oppose abortions after the first trimester and support minor restrictions on abortion, such as parentalinvolvement laws and waiting periods. The Supreme Court misrepresents the will of the public by allowing women to have abortions for any reason.

On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision legalizing abortion throughout the country...