Supreme Court Refuses to Block Texas Abortion Ban, Agrees to Hear Two Cases Challenging the Law
The Supreme Court on October 22 announced it will hear oral arguments in the Center’s case, Whole Woman’s Health v. Jackson, on November 1. The case challenges S.B. 8, a Texas law that bans abortion at about six weeks of pregnancy and incentivizes private citizens to enforce the ban.
Multiple media sources reported on the news, quoting Nancy Northup, the Center’s president and CEO, March Hearron, the Center’s senior counsel, and Amy Hagstrom Miller, the Center’s client in the case and the president and CEO of Whole Woman’s Health and Whole Woman’s Health Alliance.
Highlights include:
Nancy Northup: “The Supreme Court’s action today brings us one step closer to the restoration of Texans’ constitutional rights and an end to the havoc and heartache of this ban. We are enormously disappointed that the Court has left the law in effect for now, forcing those with means to leave the state to access constitutionally protected abortion services and leaving others with no options at all.” (Multiple sources)
Marc Hearron: “This is a case of extreme national importance and extreme urgency, given the chaos in Texas that has ensued since SB 8 took effect. Thousands of patients are being turned away from exercising their clearly established constitutional right.” (The Houston Chronicle, Law360)
Amy Hagstrom Miller: “We’ve had to turn hundreds of patients away since this ban took effect, and this ruling means we’ll have to keep denying patients the abortion care that they need and deserve.” (Multiple sources)
Oral arguments are scheduled for November 1 at 10 a.m. in the Center’s case and 11 a.m. in a case filed by the Department of Justice that challenges the Texas ban. Cick here for information on how to listen to the oral arguments.
Media coverage of the Supreme Court’s announcement:
- Associated Press: Supreme Court doesn’t block Texas abortion law, sets hearing
- Reuters: U.S. Supreme Court takes up challenge to Texas abortion ban
- The New York Times: Supreme Court Again Refuses to Block Texas Abortion Law
- The Washington Post: Supreme Court won’t block Texas abortion law but grants expedited review for Nov. 1
- CNN: Supreme Court lets Texas 6-week abortion ban stay in place and will hear oral arguments November 1
- USA Today: Supreme Court declines to block Texas abortion law for now but will hear two challenges
- ABC News: Supreme Court to take up Texas abortion law
- Ms. Magazine: Supreme Court Refuses to Block Texas Abortion Ban, Agrees to Hear Two Cases Challenging the Law
- Law360: High Court At High Speed: Abortion Cases’ Pace Stirs Interest
- Black Star News: Supreme Court To Hear Abortion Ban Cases, Republicans Continue To Target Roe V. Wade
- The Vanguard: Supreme Court Again Allows Texas Abortion Ban to Remain – But SCOTUS will Hear Two Oral Arguments Nov. 1
- Dallas Morning News: Supreme Court sets snap Nov. 1 hearing on Texas’ 6-week abortion ban but refuses to halt enforcement
- Houston Chronicle: U.S. Supreme Court to hear challenge to Texas abortion ban, setting up showdown
Learn more about the Center’s work challenging Texas’s abortion ban:
- Listen to the audio stream of oral arguments at the Supreme Court on November 1 at 10 a.m.
- Learn more about the Center’s case, Whole Woman’s Health v. Jackson.
- Read about Braid v. Stilley, a related case in which the Center is challenging the law and defending Dr. Braid, a Texas physician who violated the ban by providing abortion care to a patient.
