Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and why it matters. Quotes are taken from the syllabus (the Court’s short summary at the start of the opinion).
Summary
A short, plain-English overview of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
The Supreme Court reviewed Mississippi's Gestational Age Act, which restricts abortions after 15 weeks, and found that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion. The decision overruled Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, returning the authority to regulate abortion to the states. The Court emphasized that abortion is not deeply rooted in the nation's history and tradition.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
The Court held that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion and overruled Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
Constitutional Concepts
These are the Constitution-related themes that appear in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
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Why Substantive Due Process is relevant to Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
The Court's decision focused on whether the Constitution confers a right to obtain an abortion under the substantive due process doctrine.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)The Court finds that the right to abortion is not deeply rooted in the Nation's history and tradition.
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Why State–Federal Power is relevant to Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
The decision returned the authority to regulate abortion to the states, implicating the allocation of power between state and federal governments.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)The authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives.
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that support the summary and concepts above.
The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey are overruled.
The authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives.
Abortion is different because it destroys what Roe termed 'potential life.'
