On June 24, the Supreme Court released a decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, upholding the constitutionality of a 2018 Mississippi law banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The court also ruled 5-4 to overturn Roe v. Wade, a 1973 decision that protects pregnant people’s right to privacy without excessive government restrictions.
Understanding the right to privacy is at the root of decision making on a multitude of fundamental rights.
Attorney Joe Zarzaur Defines The Outcome Of The Decision Made By The Supreme Court And How It Impacts The Right To Privacy.
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Even though the right to privacy is not expressly stated in the United States Constitution, the United States Supreme Court has determined that several Amendments imply these rights in cases:
- First Amendment: Provides the freedom to choose any kind of religious belief and to keep that choice private.
- Third Amendment: Protects the zone of privacy of the home.
- Fourth Amendment: Protects the right of privacy against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government.
- Fifth Amendment: Provides for the right against self-incrimination, which justifies the protection of private information.
- Ninth Amendment: This amendment is interpreted to justify a broad reading the Bill of Rights to protect your fundamental right to privacy in ways not provided for in the first eight amendments.
- Fourteenth Amendment: Prohibits states from making laws that infringe upon the personal autonomy protections provided for in the first thirteen amendments. Prior to the Fourteenth Amendment, a state could make laws that violated freedom of speech, religion, etc.
MORE ABOUT THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY AMENDMENT HERE >
READ THE OPINIONS OF THE Supreme Court HERE >
Sources:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/fourth_amendment
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/privacy
https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/1141/privacy