Griswold V. Connecticut
Date: 1965
Case Background:
A Connecticut law criminalized the encouragement or use of birth control. The law stated that "any person who uses any drug, medicinal article or instrument for the purposes of preventing conception shall be fined not less than forty dollars or imprisoned not less than sixty days." The law further provided that "any person who assists, abets, counsels, causes, hires or commands another to commit any offense may be prosecuted and punished as if he were the principle offender." Estelle Griswold was the executive director of Planned Parenthood League of Connecticut. Issue: Griswold was arrested for providing illegal contraception and fined $100. So the case was brought to the Supreme Court. Decision: The court decided that the "right to marital privacy" had been violated. The law could not be enforced against married people. The Bill of Rights guarantees protection. Privacy was declared fundamental. Impact: The Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution protects a right to privacy. |
Justice: Earl Warren
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