October Term 2021 · Docket 19-1392
Does the Constitution protect a woman's right to choose abortion before viability?
Mississippi seeks to ban most pre-viability abortions. Women's health advocates argue this ban violates constitutional precedent.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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
Scott Stewart argued Roe and Casey have no constitutional basis.
Elizabeth Prelogar argued the Constitution protects a woman's right to end a pregnancy before viability.
argument_summary
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 112, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 112, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 21-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-45 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 21-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 21-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 85, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 85, lines 37-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-19
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of constitutional abortion rights. It challenges the legal foundation of prior Supreme Court decisions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 112, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 112, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 85, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 85, lines 37-51
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 1, 2021.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-21
What each side wants
Mississippi wants the Court to allow states to ban most pre-viability abortions.
Jackson Women's Health wants the Court to strike down the Mississippi ban.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 112, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 112, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 85, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 85, lines 37-51
What each side says
Mississippi argues Roe and Casey lack constitutional basis and harm democratic process.
Jackson Women's Health argues the Constitution protects a fundamental right to pre-viability abortion.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 112, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 112, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 85, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 85, lines 37-51
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked if focusing on privacy or autonomy changes the analysis.
Justice Breyer asked if the side that brought the case accepts the special rule for overturning precedent.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 21-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-45 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 21-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 21-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-19
Why it matters
The outcome defines the legal status of pre-viability abortion access nationwide. It determines whether states can prohibit these procedures. It shapes the scope of individual bodily autonomy rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 112, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 112, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 85, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 85, lines 37-51
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 12, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 21-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-45 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 21-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 21-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-19
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 112, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 112, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 85, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 85, lines 37-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 112, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 112, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 85, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 85, lines 37-51
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.