Obama Reflects on Significance of Roe V. Wade Case President Barack Obama is marking the 39th anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade decision by saying that the ruling was more than just about establishing a woman's right to an abortion. Obama says in a statement that the court's decision also makes clear that the government "should not intrude on private family matters." The president says he's committed to protecting a woman's right to choose and "this fundamental constitutional right."