The Author of Roe

In her commentary, Professor Radhika Rao focuses upon Justice Blackmun\u27s landmark opinion in Roe v. Wade, exploring the ways in which the Justice shaped and was in turn shaped by the abortion conflict. After describing Roe, she sets forth and responds to a wide range of criticisms of the decision. She then turns her attention to several other abortion and privacy cases, drawing some general insights into Justice Blackmun\u27s jurisprudence. She highlights Justice Blackmun\u27s concern for factual context and his compassion for the real people behind the cases he decided. Professor Rao connects these qualities with Justice Blackmun\u27s opinion in Roe, suggesting that his empathy for the oppressed stemmed in part from his longstanding association with the abortion issue, an issue which heightened his awareness of the plight of women, particularly poor, minority, and under-aged women. Professor Rao concludes that, while Justice Blackmun defined the boundaries of abortion law in Roe, Roe also played a critical role in defining him and in driving many other areas of his jurisprudence

Hierarchies of Discrimination in Baby Making: A Response to Professor Carroll

Roundtable on Regulating Assisted Reproductive Technology 201