Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt

Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, 579 U.S. 582 (2016), is a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court.

Texas enacted H.B. 2, which required abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals and required clinics to meet surgical-center standards. These requirements would have closed most abortion clinics in Texas. Providers challenged the law as imposing an undue burden under Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992).

Significance

Justice Breyer’s 5-3 opinion struck down both requirements as imposing an undue burden on women seeking abortion. Applying the undue burden test from Casey, the Court conducted a balancing of benefits and burdens, finding that the law provided no significant health benefits while substantially reducing access to abortion. The decision reaffirmed Casey’s essential holding and established that courts must weigh the benefits of abortion regulations against the burdens they impose. The decision was overruled by Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022).

Category

US Federal Case Law