Bellotti v. Baird, 443 U.S. 622 (1979), is a United States Supreme Court case that ruled 8-1 that teenagers do not have to secure parental consent to obtain an abortion.

The plurality opinion declined to extend the full right to minors to seek and obtain an abortion, which was granted to adult women in Roe v.

[2] The Court rejected the extension to minors by placing emphasis on the especially vulnerable nature of children, their "inability to make critical decisions in an informed and mature manner; and the importance of the parental role in child rearing.

"[2][3] Ironically, the plurality opinion allows a judge to determine that a pregnant minor is unable to make critical decisions regarding a fetus and must instead become a parent—thereby forcing the minor to make critical decisions regarding another child.

[6] Justice Rehnquist concurred on stare decisis grounds while continuing to oppose the constitutional right to an abortion.