October Term 2019 · Docket 18-1323
Can clinics sue to block abortion rules when women face no legal barrier to suing themselves?
Clinics argue they can challenge state abortion rules. State officials argue only women can bring such claims.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — 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
Ms. Rikelman argued the case respects prior Court precedent.
Ms. Rikelman stated medical consensus shows no safety benefit from the rules.
Ms. Murrill argued the Fifth Circuit correctly applied the burden of proof.
Mr. Wall argued the sides that brought the case' logic contradicts established Court cases.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-6 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 50-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 48-12 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 48-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-24 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 16-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-34 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 24-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 46-30 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 46-30
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether abortion clinics hold legal standing to challenge state regulations. The core dispute centers on who may sue to invalidate these laws.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 48-12 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 48-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 22-10
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 4, 2020.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-24 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 12-16
What each side wants
Clinics want the Court to allow them to sue on behalf of women.
State officials want the Court to deny clinic standing to sue.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 48-12 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 48-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 22-10
What each side says
Clinics argue they can sue because women face practical barriers to litigation.
State officials argue clinics lack standing because women can sue directly.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 48-12 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 48-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 22-10
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if the right belongs to women, not clinics.
Justice Alito questioned standing when women face no hindrance to suing.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-6 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 50-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 16-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-34 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 24-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 46-30 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 46-30
Why it matters
This dispute defines who can challenge abortion regulations in federal court. It shapes access to legal remedies for reproductive health providers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 48-12 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 48-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 22-10
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 34-40 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-6 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 50-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-24 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 16-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-34 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 24-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 46-30 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 46-30
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 32, lines 48-12 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 48-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 48-12 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 48-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 22-10
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.