Kathryn Kolbert

Reproductive rights attorney
Kathryn Kolbert is a pioneer for reproductive freedom.

Why you should listen

In 1992, Kathryn Kolbert argued Planned Parenthood v. Casey before the US Supreme Court. It was only her second appearance, but one that has been widely credited with saving Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision protecting a pregnant woman's right to have an abortion. 

A cofounder of the Center for Reproductive Rights, Kolbert has spent her career working to ensure that all people, wherever they live, whatever their life circumstances, whatever their age or race or LGBTQIA+ status, have the ability to choose whether to be a parent and obtain safe, legal abortions. Perhaps more than anyone, she understands how we got here, what's at stake -- and how the reproductive freedom movement can move forward.

A cofounder of the Athena Film Festival, Kolbert also created the Athena Center for Leadership at Barnard College and NPR's Justice Talking.

Kathryn Kolbert’s TED talk

More news and ideas from Kathryn Kolbert

Live from TEDWomen

What Now … for the future? Notes from Session 6 of TEDWomen 2021

December 3, 2021

Over three days and six sessions at TEDWomen 2021, more than 40 speakers and performers shared ideas that spanned the globe and drew from across cultures and disciplines to answer the question: What now? For the final session, speakers explored the biggest question of all — What now for the future? — and encouraged us […]

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