Weddington, Sarah R. (1945–)

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Weddington, Sarah R. (1945–)

American lawyer and politician. Born Sarah Ragle, Feb 5, 1945, in Abilene, Texas; dau. of Herbert Doyle Ragle (Methodist minister) and Lena Catherine (Morrison) Ragle; McMurry College, BS, 1965; University of Texas Law School, JD, 1967; m. Ron Weddington (div. 1974).

Argued the case of Roe v. Wade before the Supreme Court (1971, 1972); elected to Texas House of Representatives (1972); during 1st term, co-sponsored a health care act that established life-saving procedures for kidney patients and also championed and passed House Bill 920, which made it illegal to deny credit or loans on the basis of gender; after being reelected, co-sponsored, with Kay Bailey Hutchison, House Bill 284, which made a woman's past sexual experiences inadmissible as evidence in rape cases; relected for a 3rd term; advised President Jimmy Carter on issues affecting women (1978–80); returned to private practice and became a popular college lecturer; wrote A Question of Choice (1992), both a history of Roe v. Wade and a reflection on the years since her victory in the case.

See also Women in World History.