Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/21pdf/20-601_bq7c.pdf
Page Number: 1

(Slip Opinion) 

OCTOBER  TERM,  2021 

1 

Syllabus 

NOTE:  Where  it  is  feasible,  a  syllabus  (headnote)  will  be  released,  as  is 
being  done  in  connection  with  this  case,  at  the  time  the  opinion  is  issued. 
The  syllabus  constitutes  no  part  of  the  opinion  of  the  Court  but  has  been 
prepared  by  the  Reporter  of  Decisions  for  the  convenience  of  the  reader. 
See United States v. Detroit Timber & Lumber Co., 200 U. S. 321, 337. 

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 

Syllabus 

CAMERON, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF KENTUCKY v. 
EMW WOMEN’S SURGICAL CENTER, P. S. C., ET AL. 

CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR 
THE SIXTH CIRCUIT 

No. 20–601.  Argued October 12, 2021—Decided  March 3, 2022 

EMW Women’s Surgical Center and two of its doctors filed a federal suit 
seeking to enjoin enforcement of Kentucky House Bill 454, legislation 
regulating the abortion procedure known as dilation and evacuation.  
Named defendants in EMW’s lawsuit included two Commonwealth of-
ficials, the attorney general and the cabinet secretary for Health and 
Family Services.  EMW agreed to dismiss claims against the attorney 
general without prejudice.  The stipulation of dismissal specified that 
the attorney general’s office reserved “all rights, claims, and defenses 
. . . in any appeals arising out of this action” and agreed to be bound by 
“any final judgment . . . subject to any modification, reversal or vaca-
tion of the judgment on appeal.”  App. 28–30.  The secretary remained 
in the case and defended the challenged law.  After a bench trial, the 
District Court held that HB 454 unconstitutionally burdens a woman’s 
right  to  an  abortion  and  issued  a  permanent  injunction  against  the 
law’s enforcement.   
the  appeal  was 
   The secretary filed a notice of appeal.    While 
pending,  Kentucky  elected  a  new  attorney  general,  petitioner  David 
Cameron, and elected the former attorney general, Andrew Beshear, 
Governor.    Governor  Beshear  appointed  a  new  secretary  for  Health 
and Family Services who continued the defense of HB 454 on appeal.  
Prior  to  oral  argument  before  the  Sixth  Circuit,  Attorney  General 
Cameron entered an appearance as counsel for the new secretary.  A 
divided  Sixth  Circuit  panel  affirmed  the  District  Court’s  judgment.  
The secretary then informed the attorney general’s office that the sec-
retary would not file a petition for rehearing en banc or a petition for 
a writ of certiorari challenging the Sixth Circuit panel’s decision.  Two