CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
W.B. Fisch, Fall 2003
Assignment #26
C. Personal Autonomy
Eisenstadt v. Baird, p. 602 (1972): is it consistent
with Griswold?
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what regulation is being challenged?
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what constitutional provision is applied?
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specific holding: discrimination against unmarried couples
is unconstitutional
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standard of review applied: rational basis
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purposes offered for the regulation:
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deterring premarital sex: irrational
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distributing contraceptives: felony, 5 years in prison
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fornication: misdemeanor, 3 months/ $30 fine
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protecting health by restricting harmful products: irrational
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chapter entitled "crimes against chastity, good morals, decency,
etc."
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no exception when contraceptives are needed to protect health
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prohibiting contraception: illegitimate (Griswold)
ROE V. WADE, p. 602 (1973)
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What regulation is being challenged, and what are its purposes
(i.e., what state interests are being protected)?
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In terms of such interests, how does this case differ from
Griswold?
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In terms of the State's interest in protecting fetal life,
why was it unnecessary to determine when "life" begins?
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The "personhood" of the fetus
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Is the fetus a "person"? 14th Amendment s.1
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Why would the appellant's case "collapse", if the
fetus were a "person"?
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If the fetus were a "person", could the State properly have
decided to
liberalize the anti-abortion laws (i.e., repeal
the prohibition or substantially relax it)?
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With respect to the State's interest in protecting the mother's
health
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when does it become "compelling"?
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what regulations are necessary for the protection of that
interest?
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With respect to the State's interest in protecting the life
of the fetus
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when does it become "compelling"?
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is an absolute prohibition against abortion ever justified?
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How did the Court arrive at its "trimester" analysis in identifying
"compelling points"?