Eisenstadt v. Baird - Significance, Among The Lower Courts, At The Supreme Court, Further Readings

Eisenstadt v. Baird - Further Readings

Eisenstadt v. Baird - Significance

In addition to making contraceptives legally available to unmarried people throughout the United States, the decision described the constitutional right of privacy in language that foreshadowed the Court's 1973 finding that the right to privacy protected a woman's right to have an abortion. Although the Supreme Court struck down state laws prohibiting the use of contraceptives by married couples i…

Eisenstadt v. Baird - Among The Lower Courts

Baird was tried before Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Donald B. Macaulay in October of 1967. Represented by attorney Joseph J. Balliro, who took the case without charge, Baird waived his right to a jury trial. Assistant District Attorney Joseph R. Nolan called police lieutenant Joseph Jordan to the stand. Jordan, who had arrested Baird at Boston University, described Baird's speech and his act…

Eisenstadt v. Baird - At The Supreme Court

Eisenstadt appealed to the Supreme Court. This time, the Court announced that it would hear the appeal. Oral arguments were presented on 19 and 20 November 1971, before seven justices. Nolan, arguing for Massachusetts, emphasized Baird's lack of a medical license and claimed that "there are some very dangerous side lights and side effects to the use of many contraceptives." Nolan dismissed any pos…