This Day in History:, U.S. Supreme Court br Legalizes Abortion.br January 22, 1973.br The SCOTUS ruling on Roe v. Wade asserts br that women can choose to terminate a br pregnancy during the first two trimesters ...br ... as part of br their constitutional br right to privacy.br The controversial ruling essentially br reversed a century of anti-abortion br legislation in the United States.br It was the result of a call by many American women for control over their own reproductive processes.br The legalization of abortion became a divisive issue, br with pro-choice and pro-life organizations strengthening br their memberships and political influence.br On three separate occasions in the br 1980s and 90s, the Supreme Court br narrowly reaffirmed the decision.