SARAH Weddington, the attorney who represented “Jane Roe” Norma McCorvey in the Roe v. Wade case, has died at the age of 76, according to Texas officials.
Susan Hays, one of Weddington’s former students, said Weddington died while sleeping at her home in Austin.
“Sarah Weddington passed away this morning after a series of health problems. With Linda Coffee, she filed the first case of her legal career, Roe v. Wade, fresh out of law school.” write Hays, who is running for Texas Agriculture Commissioner.
“She’s my professor at UT, the best writing instructor I’ve ever had, and a great mentor.”
Texas Representative John Bucy III called Weddington a “Texas Giants.”
“Don’t sue Roe v. Wade, served in Texas At home, by supporting countless women to enter politics, she has left a legacy of fighting for progress that is almost second to none. ”
Councilor Vanessa Fuentes wrote: “Rest in Peace with Texas pioneer Sarah Weddington. “Everybody feels your legacy in fighting for women’s reproductive rights and supporting women in politics.
ROE V. MOTHER
Weddington earned a bachelor’s degree from McMurry University and attended the University of Texas School of Law.
After graduating, she joined a group of graduate students from the University of Texas-Austin to research ways to challenge anti-abortion statutes.
It was in 1970 when she met a pregnant McCorvey seeking an abortion. Weddington and Coffee filed a lawsuit against Dallas County District Attorney Henry Wade, who is responsible for the anti-abortion act.
To protect his identity, McCorvey is referred to as “Jane Roe” in legal documents.
The Dallas courts agreed that Texas abortion law was unconstitutional but the state appealed the decision, taking the case to the US Supreme Court.
At age 26, Weddington argued before the Supreme Court based on her arguments for Amendments 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, and 14 and the Court’s earlier decision in the legal Griswold v. Connecticut case commercialize the sale of contraceptives.
In January 1973, the Court overturned Texas’ abortion law by a 7-2 majority, legalizing abortion throughout the United States.
Following the case, Weddington was elected to the Texas House of Representatives three times and spoke at the 1977 National Convention of Women in Houston about women’s reproductive freedom.
She also served in the United States Department of Agriculture in 1977 and was an assistant to President Jimmy Carter from 1978 to 1981.
More to follow…
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https://www.the-sun.com/news/4344487/sarah-weddington-roe-v-wade-attonery-dead/ The attorney representing ‘Jane Roe’ Norma McCorvey in the Roe v. The landmark Wade passed away
