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CORVALLIS - Sara Weddington, an attorney who gained fame in the landmark 1973 Supreme Court abortion rights case, Roe vs. Wade, will be the keynote speaker for Oregon State University's Women's Leadership Conference on Saturday, Feb. 7.

Cost for the 15th annual day-long conference is $10 and participants should pre-register with the OSU Memorial Union Program Council in MU Room 103 by Feb. 4, or call 541-737-6872 for more information.

Conference check-in starts at 9:30 a.m. in the MU Lounge with the first session beginning at 10 a.m., followed by Weddington's keynote address at 11 a.m. A panel discussion is scheduled at 1:15 p.m., followed by a second session at 2 p.m. and a wrap-up question-and-answer session starting at 3 p.m.

America's debate about abortion - whether and under what circumstances it should be allowed - was thrown into controversy on Jan. 22, 1973. On that day, the U.S. Supreme Court declared unconstitutional a Texas law prohibiting an abortion except for the purpose of saving a woman's life.

The decision invalidated abortion laws in 46 states.

"Jane Roe" sought an abortion in Texas, but since her life was not at risk, she was unable to obtain a legal abortion. At the age of 26, newly minted lawyer Weddington argued Roe's case before the Supreme Court.

Since then, Weddington has become increasingly involved in leadership and public issues, focusing on the development of leadership and self-renewal skills.