Handwritten and signed statement by Linda Coffee, one of the two women who successfully argued Roe v. Wade before the Supreme Court, famously giving women in the United States the right to an abortion. Both Coffee and Sarah Weddington represented ''Jane Roe'' in the historic case, and here Coffee describes how the case originated, as well as her thoughts on the 2022 Supreme Court case that made abortion illegal. Penned in white felt-tip on a 20'' x 16'' photo, with Coffee's image at bottom center, she writes in full,

''In 1969, I came upon a mention of California's People v. Belous. Here was a ruling that rendered a state abortion law void on grounds that it was constitutionally vague and that it violated the due process clause of the 14th Amendment. I then thought the Texas abortion law was vulnerable too (Buchanan v. Batchelor).

The Texas law was a legal relic, out of step with the reality that if a woman self-aborted -- she wasn't guilty of a crime, not even a misdemeanor. We then found an unhappily pregnant woman Norma McCorvey.

She wanted an abortion and wished to proceed with a lawsuit. I quickly fashioned for her a pseudonym, (combining Jane which was suitably common) with Roe (which, along with, Doe, was standard legal vernacular). Roe v. Wade remained settled law for 49 years until the 2022 conservative Supreme Court ruling. An overwhelming majority of Americans believe abortion should be legal.

Linda Coffee, Esq.
Supreme Court Counsel - Roe vs. Wade''.

Satin-finish photo measures 20'' x 16''. A few instances of smudging or cross-outs to writing and some duplication of writing in the last paragraph, overall in very good condition. Accompanied by a photo of Coffee signing.