October Term 2005 · Docket 04-1144
Does New Hampshire's parental notification law violate constitutional rights?
Planned Parenthood argues the state law forces doctors to break medical ethics. The state claims the law protects minors.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
General Ayotte argued the lower court relied on rare scenarios.
Ms. Dalven argued some teens face immediate medical emergencies.
Justice Breyer questioned the existence of a health exemption.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-17
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
New Hampshire requires doctors to notify parents before a minor gets an abortion. Doctors can seek a court order to skip this step. The state says this process is safe. Doctors say it creates dangerous delays and legal risks.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 19-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 30, 2005.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
What each side wants
The state wants the law to stay in effect.
Planned Parenthood wants the law struck down.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 19-37
What each side says
The state argues the law allows doctors to seek court orders.
Planned Parenthood argues the law creates unmanageable legal risks for doctors.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 19-37
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked what specific law protects doctors from prosecution.
Justice Kennedy asked if the protection comes from the statute or policy.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-17
Why it matters
This case defines how states can regulate minor access to abortion. It balances parental rights against medical urgency. It sets standards for state laws involving minors and healthcare.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 19-37
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-17
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 19-37
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.