Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/23pdf/23-726_6jgm.pdf
Page Number: 10.0

Cite as:  603 U. S. ____ (2024) 

3 

BARRETT, J., concurring 

After the District Court ruled, the Idaho Supreme Court
construed the Act.  That court explained that the Act “does 
not require objective certainty, or a particular level of im-
mediacy, before the abortion can be ‘necessary’ to save the 
woman’s life.”  Planned Parenthood Great Nw. v. State, 171 
Idaho 374, 445, 522 P. 3d 1132, 1203 (2023).  And “treating 
an ectopic pregnancy, by removing the fetus,” the court con-
cluded,  does  not  count  as  an  “ ‘abortion’ ”  under  the  Act. 
Ibid. 

Without holding a new evidentiary hearing, the District
Court denied Idaho’s motion for reconsideration.  2023 WL 
3284977  (May  4,  2023).  The  Idaho  Legislature  later
amended  the  definition  of  “abortion”  to  exclude  “[t]he  re-
moval of a dead unborn child” and “[t]he removal of an ec-
topic  or  molar  pregnancy.”  §18–604(1)(b),  (c).    It  also 
changed the “life of the mother” affirmative defense into an
exception from the prohibition on criminal abortions.  §18–
622(2).

The Ninth Circuit initially stayed the District Court’s in-
junction, 83 F. 4th 1130 (2023), but the en banc court va-
cated the panel’s stay, declined to stay the injunction, and 
scheduled  oral  argument  on  the  merits,  82  F.  4th  1296 
(2023).  We granted Idaho’s and the Legislature’s applica-
tions to stay the District Court’s injunction pending appeal, 
treated the applications as petitions for a writ of certiorari
before judgment, and granted the petitions.  601 U. S. ___ 
(2024). 

II 
Before  the  Ninth  Circuit  had  the  opportunity  to  review
the  District  Court’s  preliminary  injunction,  this  Court
stayed  the  injunction  and  granted  certiorari  before  judg-
ment.  Both  decisions  were  premised  on  the  belief  that 
Idaho would suffer irreparable harm under the injunction
and that these cases were ready for the Court’s immediate
determination.  Since  then,  briefing  and  oral  argument