Griswold v. Connecticut

Definition

Griswold v. Connecticut was a landmark Supreme Court case in 1965 that established the constitutional right to privacy, particularly in the context of a married couple's use of contraception. The case struck down a Connecticut law that prohibited the use of contraceptives, ruling that it violated the right to marital privacy implied in the Bill of Rights.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Griswold v. Connecticut case was a landmark decision that established the constitutional right to privacy, particularly in the context of a married couple's use of contraception.
2. The case struck down a Connecticut law that prohibited the use of contraceptives, ruling that it violated the right to marital privacy implied in the Bill of Rights.
3. The Court's decision was based on the concept of 'penumbral rights' - implied rights that are not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are considered to be protected under the Bill of Rights.
4. The case laid the foundation for the Supreme Court's later decisions on the right to privacy, including Roe v. Wade, which established a constitutional right to abortion.
5. Griswold v. Connecticut was a significant expansion of the Court's interpretation of the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment, establishing the doctrine of 'substantive due process' to protect certain fundamental rights.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Griswold v. Connecticut decision established the constitutional right to privacy.
  • In Griswold v. Connecticut, the Supreme Court ruled that the Connecticut law prohibiting the use of contraceptives by married couples violated their right to privacy, which the Court found to be implied in the 'penumbras' of the Bill of Rights. The Court's decision recognized that the Constitution protects certain fundamental rights, even if they are not explicitly stated, and that the right to privacy is one of these implied rights. This landmark case laid the groundwork for the Court's later decisions, such as Roe v. Wade, which further expanded the right to privacy.
• Analyze how the Griswold v. Connecticut decision expanded the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment.
  • The Griswold v. Connecticut decision was a significant expansion of the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment. Prior to this case, the Court had primarily used the Due Process Clause to protect procedural rights. However, in Griswold, the Court established the doctrine of 'substantive due process,' which holds that the Due Process Clause also protects certain fundamental rights, even if they are not explicitly stated in the Constitution. This laid the foundation for the Court's later decisions, such as Roe v. Wade, which used substantive due process to protect the right to privacy and other unenumerated rights.
• Evaluate the long-term impact of the Griswold v. Connecticut decision on the interpretation of the Bill of Rights and the right to privacy.
  • The Griswold v. Connecticut decision had a profound and lasting impact on the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Bill of Rights and the right to privacy. By recognizing that the Constitution protects certain fundamental rights that are not explicitly stated, the Court's decision in Griswold paved the way for a more expansive understanding of individual liberties. This laid the groundwork for the Court's later rulings, such as Roe v. Wade, which further solidified the right to privacy as a cornerstone of personal autonomy and freedom. The Griswold decision has been widely regarded as a landmark case that significantly shaped the modern interpretation of the Bill of Rights and the scope of constitutional protections for individual rights.

Related terms

Right to Privacy:

The right to privacy is an individual's fundamental right to personal autonomy and to be free from unwarranted government intrusion into their personal affairs.

Penumbral Rights: Penumbral rights are implied rights that are not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are considered to be protected under the Bill of Rights.

Substantive Due Process: Substantive due process is the legal doctrine that certain fundamental rights are protected under the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment, even if they are not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution.