In 1970, when Norma McCorvey became pregnant, she didn’t want to have a child while struggling with substance use. She sued the state of Texas, which banned all abortions not aiming to save the mother’s life.
The Jane Collective: Women's Rights in Secrecy
Roe v. Wade
Photograph by Lorie Shaull, 1989, Norma McCorvey and Gloria Allred
She faced a number of delays and many sexist jokes throughout the oral arguments, but ultimately, the Supreme Court ruled in her favor.
"Texas Assistant Attorney General Jay Floyd stood to defend the state law. He began, inexplicably, with a sexist joke: “It’s an old joke, but when a man argues against two beautiful ladies like this, they are going to have the last word.” The bafflingly inappropriate comment was followed by three seconds of dead silence."
Brennan Center for Justice, 2024
The Janes (2022), HBO
During the process of Roe v. Wade, the Janes’ attorney, Jo-anne Wolfson, stalled trials until after the verdict. Once the ruling was announced, the charges were dropped and the Jane Collective ceased operations.
Jo-anne Wolfson, The Janes (2022), HBO