TheGriswold v. Connecticutcase was decided on June 7, 1965.
Prior to this case,birth controluse was either restricted or outlawed.
Some states, like Connecticut and Massachusetts, prohibited birth control use altogether.
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Although this law was created in 1879, it had almost never been enforced.
Their clinic provided information, instruction, and medical advice to married people about ways to prevent conception.
The clinic only operated from November 1 to November 10, 1961.
After being open just 10 days, both Griswold and Buxton were arrested.
They were then prosecuted, found guilty, and each fined $100.
Their conviction was upheld by the Appellate Division of the Circuit Court as well as the Connecticut Supreme Court.
Griswold appealed her conviction to the US Supreme Court in 1965.
Seven justices presided over the hearing.
Supreme Court Decision
The case was decided on June 7, 1965.
Justice William O. Douglas wrote the majority opinion.
Thus, the Connecticut law violated the right to privacy within marriage and was found to be unconstitutional.
TheGriswold v. Connecticutruling essentially determined that privacy within a marriage is a personal zone off-limits to the government.
The very idea is repulsive to the notions of privacy surrounding the marriage relationship.
We deal with a right of privacy older than the Bill of Rights…
Therefore, birth control use was still prohibited for individuals who were not married.
The right to use contraception wasnotextended to unmarried people UNTIL theEisenstadt v. BairdSupreme Court case decided in 1972!
Griswold v. Connecticutestablished the right to privacy only pertained to married couples.
The Supreme Court overturned a Massachusetts law that criminalized the use of contraceptives by unmarried couples.
Since this ruling, the Supreme Court has cited the right to privacy in numerous Court hearings.
TheGriswold v. Connecticutset the precedent for thetotal legalization of birth control, as determined in theEisenstadt v. Bairdcase.
Additionally, the right to privacy served as the cornerstone in the landmarkRoe v. WadeSupreme Court case.
Due to that ruling, each state now has the power to ban or restrict abortion access.
Griswold v. Connecticut,381 US U.S. 479.
Brass LA.An arrest in New Haven, contraception and the right to privacy.
Yale School of Medicine.
Baird v. Eisenstadt,310 F. Supp.
