Poelker v. Doe

PETITIONER: Poelker
RESPONDENT: Doe
LOCATION: Alabama Department of Corrections

DOCKET NO.: 75-442
DECIDED BY: Burger Court (1975-1981)
LOWER COURT: United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

CITATION: 432 US 519 (1977)
ARGUED: Jan 11, 1977
DECIDED: Jun 20, 1977

ADVOCATES:
Eugene P. Freeman - Argued the cause for the petitioners
Frank Susman - Argued the cause for the respondent

Facts of the case

A St. Louis policy prohibited non-therapeutic abortions in the city's two publicly run hospitals.

Question

Did the policy violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?

Media for Poelker v. Doe

Audio Transcription for Oral Argument - January 11, 1977 in Poelker v. Doe

Audio Transcription for Opinion Announcement - June 20, 1977 in Poelker v. Doe

Warren E. Burger:

I have the judgments and opinions for the Court to announce in two cases.

In 75-442 Poelker against Doe for the reasons stated in an opinion for the Court filed this morning, the judgment of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is reversed and the case is remanded to that Court for further proceedings consistent with the opinion of the Court.

Mr. Justice Brennan, Mr. Justice Marshall and Mr. Justice Blackmun have filed or joined dissenting opinions.