Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/21pdf/21-962_n6io.pdf
Page Number: 4.0

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IN RE WHOLE WOMAN’S HEALTH 

SOTOMAYOR, J., dissenting 

the provision of such care, or intends to assist in the provi-
sion of such care after embryonic cardiac activity is detect-
able.  See Whole Woman’s Health v. Jackson, 595 U. S. ___, 
___–___ (2021) (SOTOMAYOR, J., dissenting) (slip op., at 2– 
3) (Whole Woman’s Health II).  This structure was designed 
to make it more complicated for courts to enjoin the law’s 
enforcement  on  a  statewide  basis.    See  Whole  Woman’s 
Health I, 594 U. S., at ___–___ (slip op., at 2–3).  To maxim-
ize the burden of being sued, S. B. 8 also modifies the de-
fault  rules  of  procedure  to  an  extraordinary  extent.  See 
Whole Woman’s Health II, 595 U. S., at ___–___ (slip op., at 
3–4).

The petitioners, abortion providers and advocates, chal-
lenged S. B. 8 in the Western District of Texas.  The defend-
ants,  including  several  state  medical  licensing  officials, 
moved to dismiss the case.  After this Court twice declined 
to block S. B. 8 from taking effect, it granted certiorari be-
fore  judgment  to  decide  whether  the  case  could  proceed. 
Whole  Woman’s  Health  v.  Jackson,  595  U. S.  ___  (2021). 
“[S]tand[ing]  in  the  shoes  of  the  Court  of  Appeals,”  this 
Court “review[ed] the defendants’ appeals challenging the 
District  Court’s  order  denying  their  motions  to  dismiss.” 
Whole Woman’s Health II, 595 U. S., at ___ (opinion of the 
Court) (slip op., at 4).  The Court held suit could not proceed 
against some defendants.  Id., at ___–___ (slip op., at 4–11). 
However, “eight Justices h[eld] th[e] case may proceed past
the motion to dismiss stage against” the licensing officials,
who had authority to enforce S. B. 8 for purposes of the mo-
tion to dismiss stage.  Id., at ___ (slip op., at 17). 

The eight Justices who “agree[d]” on this point, id., at ___ 
(ROBERTS,  C.  J.,  concurring  in  judgment  in  part  and  dis-
senting in part) (slip op., at 2), also made plain that the lit-
igation must continue apace.  Four wrote that “the District 
Court should resolve this litigation and enter appropriate
relief without delay.”  Ibid.  The other four stressed the “ex-
traordinary solicitude” they had given the case.  Id., at ___,