1970s legal cases

The 1970s saw landmark legal cases shaping civil rights, privacy, and environmental laws. For example, in Roe v. Wade (1973), the Supreme Court recognized a woman’s right to abortion as part of privacy rights. In United States v. Nixon (1974), the Court limited presidential power by forcing President Nixon to release recordings during Watergate. The case of Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978) addressed affirmative action, ruling that race could be a factor but not the sole basis for college admissions. These cases established key legal principles that continue to influence American law today.