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Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)

Definition

A landmark Supreme Court case where it was ruled that a state's ban on the use of contraceptives violated the right to marital privacy. This case established the constitutional right to privacy for married couples.

Analogy

Imagine if there were rules at school saying you couldn't share secrets with your best friend. That would feel unfair and intrusive, wouldn't it? Similarly, Griswold v. Connecticut decided that what happens privately between married couples (like using contraceptives) shouldn't be controlled by laws.

Related terms

Ninth Amendment: The part of the Bill of Rights that says just because certain rights aren’t specifically mentioned in the Constitution doesn’t mean they don’t exist – this was used in Griswold v. Connecticut’s decision about marital privacy.

Penumbra Rights: These are rights not explicitly stated but inferred from other constitutional provisions - like how 'privacy' isn't directly mentioned in constitution but inferred through various amendments including the 9th.

Contraception: Birth control methods that prevent pregnancy, which was at the heart of the Griswold v. Connecticut case.