Home > Great American Court Cases > Beal v. Doe

Legal Citation: 432 U.S. 438 (1977)

Petitioner
Beal, Secretary, Department of Public Welfare of Pennsylvania, et al.

Respondent
"Jane Doe"

Petitioner's Claim
That Title XIX of the Social Security Act, a statute governing the federal Medicaid program, did not require states participating in that program to provide financial assistance for non-therapeutic abortions—i.e., abortions that are not deemed medically necessary.

Chief Lawyer for Petitioner
Norman J. Watkins

Chief Lawyer for Respondent
Judd F. Crosby

Justices for the Court
Warren E. Burger, Lewis F. Powell, Jr. (writing for the Court), William H. Rehnquist, John Paul Stevens, Potter Stewart, Byron R. White

Justices Dissenting
Harry A. Blackmun, William J. Brennan, Jr., Thurgood Marshall

Place
Washington, D.C.

Date of...