Keeler v. Superior Court

Q: What court decided Superior Court?

Keeler v. Superior Court was decided by the State Appellate Court in 1970.

Legal Case

A viable fetus is not considered a 'human being' under California's murder statute, Penal Code § 187, because the Legislature did not intend to include fetuses when the statute was enacted in 1872.

ReligiousLiberty.TV February 26, 2026 1 min read

Cite This Case

Keeler v. Superior Court (1970).

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Keeler v. Superior Court (State Appellate Court, 1970). https://religiousliberty.tv/case-library/keeler/

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⚠ No official reporter citation found for this case. Citation quality will improve once a reporter citation (e.g. 573 U.S. 682) is added to the case record.

Keeler v. Superior Court [State Appellate Court, 1970] — A viable fetus is not considered a 'human being' under California's murder statute, Penal Code § 187, because the Legislature did not intend to include fetuses when the statute was enacted in 1872. Source: ReligiousLiberty.TV (https://religiousliberty.tv/case-library/keeler/, accessed September 14, 2026).

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⚠ No official reporter citation found for this case. Citation quality will improve once a reporter citation (e.g. 573 U.S. 682) is added to the case record.

Year: 1970 Court: State Appellate Court

Holding: A viable fetus is not considered a 'human being' under California's murder statute, Penal Code § 187, because the Legislature did not intend to include fetuses when the statute was enacted in 1872.

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Official Documents

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Coverage on ReligiousLiberty.TV

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Justice for the Unborn: The Court Decision That Forced California to Rewrite Its Murder Laws August 14, 2024

Referenced

Keeler v. Superior Court is a case decided by the State Appellate Court in 1970. The court held that a viable fetus is not considered a 'human being' under California's murder statute, Penal Code § 187, because the Legislature did not intend to include fetuses when the statute was enacted in 1872.