October Term 2023 · Docket 23-726
Does EMTALA override state abortion bans for pregnant patients in crisis?
the sides that brought the case argue state law controls medical practice. The government claims federal law mandates stabilizing care.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — 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
Mr. Turner argued EMTALA rests on state medical practice standards.
General Prelogar argued EMTALA guarantees urgent stabilizing care for all.
Justice Kagan noted the statute references available staff and facilities.
Justice Sotomayor stated preemption requires a direct conflict with state law.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 134, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 134, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 39-19 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 39-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-39
- 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 23-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 43-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-15
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of federal preemption in healthcare.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-11
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 24, 2024.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 134, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 134, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-17
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to uphold the state law ban.
The government wants the Court to enforce the federal mandate.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-11
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue EMTALA relies on state medical licensing standards.
The government argues EMTALA requires stabilizing care regardless of state law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-11
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked if EMTALA regulates the state or creates a contract.
Justice Jackson asked the advocate to explain the statute's operation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 134, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 134, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 39-19 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 39-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 43-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-15
Why it matters
The outcome defines federal limits on state abortion restrictions. It determines access to emergency care for pregnant patients. It clarifies the balance between federal mandates and state authority.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-11
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 31-51 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 134, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 134, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 39-19 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 39-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 43-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-15
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 129, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-11
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.