Landmark Legal Cases: Milestones in Women's Rights

In 1873, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Myra Bradwell in Bradwell v. Illinois, upholding the state's law that prohibited women from practicing law.

In 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Griggs v. Duke Power Co. that employers cannot use discriminatory employment practices that have a disparate impact on protected groups, even if those practices are not intended to discriminate.

In 1965, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Griswold v. Connecticut that the right to privacy, as protected by the Fourteenth Amendment, includes the right to use contraceptives.

In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that the Constitution protects a woman's right to have an abortion without excessive government restriction.

In 1961, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Hoyt v. Florida that states cannot deny women the right to serve on juries, as this violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

In 1996, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Planned Parenthood v. Casey that the right to privacy includes the right to have an abortion, but states can regulate abortion to protect women's health and safety.

In 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Loving v. Virginia that state laws prohibiting interracial marriage are unconstitutional.

In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that the Fourteenth Amendment requires states to license and recognize same-sex marriages.

In 1992, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Planned Parenthood v. Casey that states cannot require women to obtain their husband's consent before obtaining an abortion.

In 1992, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Planned Parenthood v. Casey that states can require parental notification for minors seeking an abortion, but cannot impose an undue burden on a woman's right to obtain an abortion.

In 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Eisenstadt v. Baird that states cannot prohibit the sale of contraceptives to unmarried people.

In 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Lawrence v. Texas that states cannot criminalize sodomy, as this violates the right to privacy.

In 1898, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Stanton v. Stanton that states cannot prohibit women from serving as jurors.

In 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Reed v. Reed that states cannot discriminate against women in jury selection.

In 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Goesaert v. Cleary that states cannot prohibit women from working in certain jobs, such as bartending.