Which of the following best describes the case Griswold v. ?Connecticut 1965? ?a) ?a Supreme Court case that established the right of birth control for married couples) ?was a private one b) ?a Supreme Court case that held a woman’s decision to terminate a pregnancy in the first trimester was a private one c) ?a Supreme Court case that essentially acknowledged the regulation of abortion was up to the states d) ?a Supreme Court case that held the right of birth control was a separate issue than that of the right of privacy
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: a) A Supreme Court case that established the right of birth control for married couples
Explanation
The landmark case Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) is a pivotal decision in United States constitutional law, particularly concerning the right to privacy. In this case, the Supreme Court struck down a Connecticut law that prohibited the use of contraceptives, even by married couples. The Court ruled that the law violated the “right to marital privacy,” effectively establishing a constitutional right to privacy concerning intimate practices between married individuals.
The case arose when Estelle Griswold, the Executive Director of the Planned Parenthood League of Connecticut, and Dr. C. Lee Buxton were arrested for providing birth control advice to married couples, in direct violation of the Connecticut statute. They intentionally challenged the law in hopes of having it overturned.
In a 7-2 decision, the Court ruled that while the Constitution does not explicitly mention a general right to privacy, various guarantees within the Bill of Rights create “zones of privacy” that protect marital relationships. Justice William O. Douglas, writing for the majority, argued that the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Ninth Amendments collectively imply a right to privacy.
Griswold v. Connecticut is significant because it laid the groundwork for later cases involving privacy rights, including Eisenstadt v. Baird (1972), which extended contraceptive rights to unmarried individuals, and Roe v. Wade (1973), which addressed a woman’s right to an abortion. It introduced the principle that personal decisions regarding marriage, childbearing, and intimacy are protected from unwarranted government intrusion.
Importantly, Griswold focused specifically on married couples and their access to contraception, setting it apart from later cases that dealt directly with abortion or broader reproductive rights. Therefore, option a accurately describes the essence and legal impact of Griswold v. Connecticut.
