MINEOLA, Texas — $15. That’s what it price tag Dallas lawyer Linda Espresso to file Roe v. Wade in 1970.  

“Now they continue to keep elevating the value of filing matters,” Espresso said laughing. 

Coffee, 79, was born in Houston but grew up in Dallas, attending Woodrow Wilson Significant School. 

She later on graduated from the University of Texas at Austin Faculty of Legislation. Espresso clerked for federal choose Sarah Hughes, who famously swore in Lyndon B. Johnson as president on Air Drive A single just after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. 

Espresso afterwards teamed up with fellow UT law college grad, Sarah Weddington, to challenge abortion guidelines in Texas. 

“She was going to deliver an abortion challenge,” Coffee mentioned. “I do not know how she was going to do it, for the reason that she did not have a customer.”  

Coffee explained a mate from church launched her to Norma McCorvey, who was expecting and required an abortion.

McCorvey turned recognized as “Jane Roe” in Roe v. Wade, the Dallas District Lawyer.

Connected: Did you know? Previous Dallas courtroom nonetheless exists where by Roe v. Wade was argued 

“Henry Wade was really a extremely great prosecutor,” Coffee explained.

Espresso and Weddington argued the case in a Dallas courtroom, which nonetheless exists on Ervay Road downtown. The a few judges who heard the scenario agreed with Jane Roe’s attorneys. But the case was appealed to the Supreme Courtroom. 

“I was form of nervous in any case for the reason that I under no circumstances — this is the only time I’ve ever tackled the United States Supreme Courtroom,” Coffee mentioned.

Coffee nonetheless has her quill pens, a traditional memento presented to lawyers who argue in front of the Supreme Court.

“There had been so lots of people today, and we noticed that there were being a great deal of the wives of the justices on the Supreme Courtroom were being there,” Coffee claimed.

The Supreme Court docket dominated in their favor, legalizing abortions in 1973. But now, the long term is unsure following a leaked draft view shows a bulk of U.S. Supreme Courtroom Justices are prepared to overturn Coffee’s case.

Relevant: Texans respond with every thing from joy to anger more than possible stop to Roe v. Wade

“I’m absolutely sure which is what we are going to be combating more than state by state in the potential,” Coffee stated. “I consider men and women will go locations exactly where they can get an abortion.”

Her suggestions to the younger generation?

“Keep collaborating,” Espresso claimed. “Do the greatest you can to attempt to make factors superior.”