Appeals court judges reject attempt to reopen Roe vs. Wade decision

Published: 2004-09-21

NEW ORLEANS (CNS) -- A federal appeals court has rejected an attempt to reopen Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. The case was brought before a three-judge panel in the 5th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans Sept. 14 by Norma McCorvey, the woman known as Jane Roe in the Supreme Court case 31 years ago, who now publicly speaks out against abortion. The Justice Foundation, a San Antonio law firm representing McCorvey, filed a motion last year asking the federal courts to overturn the Roe decision, saying it was not "fair or just" and submitting evidence claiming that abortions harm a woman's mental and physical health. In its eight-page ruling, the court said McCorvey's appeal was moot because it was based on the case challenging Texas law that made abortions illegal, but that law no longer exists.

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