October Term 2006 · Docket 05-1382
Does the federal ban on intact D&E procedures violate the Constitution?
The dispute centers on whether a federal law banning a specific late-term abortion method is constitutional.
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 Clement argued the case presents a familiar constitutional question.
Ms. Smith argued that intact delivery is a central hallmark of the procedure.
Ms. Gartner argued that the government cannot ban pre-viability abortions.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 5-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 27-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-39
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case challenges the Federal Partial-Birth Abortion Act. The government argues the law is valid. The challengers argue the law is unconstitutional.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 5-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 27-23
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 8, 2006.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
The government wants the Court to uphold the federal ban.
The challengers want the Court to strike down the federal ban.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 5-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 27-23
What each side says
The government argues the law presents the same constitutional question as prior cases.
The challengers argue the government cannot ban pre-viability abortions without a health exception.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 5-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 27-23
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked about medical literature regarding patient suitability.
Justice Kennedy asked about the likelihood of intact delivery during standard procedures.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-39
Why it matters
The outcome defines the scope of federal power over late-term abortion methods. It determines whether specific medical procedures face federal restrictions. It impacts access to certain reproductive healthcare options.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 5-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 27-23
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 31-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-39
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 28, lines 5-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 27-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 5-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 27-23
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.