In 1978, Akron enacted an ordinance to regulate the performance of abortions. The ordinance required parental consent before an abortion could be performed on an unmarried minor and a twenty-four hour waiting period, among other provisions. The ACLU of Ohio and volunteer attorney Stephan Landsman challenged the ordinance. A federal district court invalidated some of the provisions. The case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and on June 15, 1983, the Court invalidated the seventeen provisions of Akron's ordinance. The Court found that the ordinance violated the Constitution because it was clearly intended to direct women away from choosing abortion.

Read the decision here.

Date filed

December 1, 1981

Status

Historic