Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/21pdf/21-463_3ebh.pdf
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(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 

WHOLE WOMAN’S HEALTH ET AL. v. JACKSON, 
JUDGE, DISTRICT COURT OF TEXAS, 114TH 
DISTRICT, ET AL. 

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

No. 21–463.  Argued November 1, 2021—Decided December 10, 2021 

The Court granted certiorari before judgment in this case to determine 
whether  the  petitioners  may  pursue  a  pre-enforcement  challenge  to 
Texas  Senate  Bill  8—the  Texas  Heartbeat  Act—a  Texas  statute  en-
acted in 2021 that prohibits physicians from performing or inducing 
an abortion if the physician detected a fetal heartbeat.  S. B. 8 does not 
allow  state officials  to  bring criminal  prosecutions or  civil  actions  to 
enforce the law but instead directs enforcement through “private civil 
actions”  culminating  in  injunctions  and  statutory  damages  awards 
against those who perform or assist with prohibited abortions.  Tex. 
Health & Safety Code Ann. §§171.204(a), 171.207(a), 171.208(a)(2), (3).  
Tracking language from Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa.  v. 
Casey, 505 U. S. 833, S. B. 8 permits abortion providers to defeat any 
suit against them by showing, among other things, that holding them 
liable  would  place  an  “undue  burden”  on  women  seeking  abortions.  
§§171.209(a)–(b).   
   The petitioners are abortion providers who sought pre-enforcement 
review of S. B. 8 in federal court based on the allegation that S. B. 8 
violates the Federal Constitution.  The petitioners sought an injunc-
tion barring the following defendants from taking any action to enforce 
the  statute:  a  state-court  judge,  Austin  Jackson;  a  state-court  clerk, 
Penny  Clarkston;  Texas  attorney  general,  Ken  Paxton;  executive  di-
rector of the Texas Medical Board, Stephen Carlton; executive director 
of the Texas Board of Nursing, Katherine Thomas; executive director 
of the Texas Board of Pharmacy, Allison Benz; executive commissioner 
of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Cecile Young;