Abortion jurisprudence has been a fulcrum of constitutional debates and litigation for decades. As we embark on this legal odyssey, we endeavor to elucidate seminal Supreme Court holdings that shape abortion rights in the United States.
Click the link on the case names to further explore on Etalia.ai.
June Medical Services LLC v. Russo, 591 U.S. (2020)
Procedural Posture: A Louisiana statute identical to the Texas law invalidated in Hellerstedt – requiring doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals – was under review.
Holding: The Court struck down the law, reaffirming Hellerstedt's precedent and holding that the Louisiana law posed an undue burden.
Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, 579 U.S. (2016)
Procedural Posture: Texan provisions necessitating abortion providers to possess admitting privileges at nearby hospitals and for clinics to maintain surgical facility standards were contested.
Holding: The Court invalidated both provisions, applying the undue burden test from Casey. The majority concluded that the requirements provided no tangible health benefits and erected an impermissible barrier for women seeking abortions.
Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992)
Procedural Posture: A litany of provisions from Pennsylvania's Abortion Control Act faced constitutional scrutiny.
Holding: The Court repudiated Roe's trimester framework but upheld the core tenet: women possess a constitutional right to procure an abortion pre-viability.
Undue Burden Standard: Any statutory provision that has the purpose or effect of imposing a "substantial obstacle" in the path of a woman seeking an abortion of a non-viable fetus is deemed constitutionally infirm.
Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973)
Procedural Posture: Appellants challenge the constitutionality of a Texas statute proscribing abortion.
Holding: The Court, in a landmark 7-2 decision, delineated a woman's right to choose an abortion under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, recognizing a qualified right to privacy.
Tripartite Framework: The Court propounded a trimester framework, limiting states' regulatory power during different stages of pregnancy.
The labyrinthine realm of abortion jurisprudence encapsulates profound tensions between individual rights and state interests. SCOTUS decisions provide a navigational chart, though the contours of abortion rights remain in flux, reflecting evolving societal mores and interpretative paradigms.
Note: This blog is a cursory overview of SCOTUS decisions on abortion. Given the vastness of the topic and the nuances inherent in each case, a comprehensive analysis would warrant a more exhaustive exposition. Always ensure factual accuracy and currentness when writing on legal topics, as newer decisions or legislation might alter the landscape. View these cases on Etalia.ai for the published opinion of the court, oral argument transcripts, and for recent cases the audio of the oral arguments presented before the court.
