No. 19-1392October Term 2019Decided Jun 24, 2022
Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization
The Court ended the federal constitutional right to abortion and put abortion policy back in state governments' hands.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jun 24, 2022
- What it's about
In this landmark case, the Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not confer a right to abortion, overturning the precedents set by Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The decision returned the authority to regulate abortion to individual states and their elected representatives.
Question presented
1. Whether all pre-viability prohibitions on elective abortions are unconstitutional. 2. Whether the validity of a pre-viability law that protects women’s health, the dignity of unborn life, and the integrity of the medical profession and society should be analyzed under Casey’s "undue burden" standard or Hellerstedt’s balancing of benefits and burdens. 3. Whether a State has standing to assert that its abortion laws may be justified by a state interest in protecting unborn life from the point of conception.
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit / Decision released Jun 24, 2022
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Briefing
What it's about
Dobbs asked whether Mississippi could enforce a law that banned many abortions before viability (when a fetus can survive outside the womb). The Supreme Court said the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion, overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, and returned abortion regulation to the states and their elected representatives.
Impact
The decision reshaped abortion law nationwide by letting each state set its own rules. For example, a person seeking an abortion may now face very different access depending on the state, while state lawmakers have more power to restrict or protect the procedure.
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished this case. Future abortion rules will now be made mainly by states and their elected representatives.
What did the Supreme Court rule in Dobbs?
The Court said the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion. It overturned Roe and Casey and returned regulation to the states.
How does Dobbs affect people seeking abortions?
Access can now vary sharply by state. Some states can restrict abortion more, while others can protect access through their own laws.
What happens next after Dobbs?
The Supreme Court has finished this case. Future abortion rules will now be made mainly by states and their elected representatives.
Decision
What the Court decided
The Court ended the federal constitutional right to abortion and put abortion policy back in state governments' hands.
Impact
The decision reshaped abortion law nationwide by letting each state set its own rules. For example, a person seeking an abortion may now face very different access depending on the state, while state lawmakers have more power to restrict or protect the procedure.
Not official Court text.
Opinion documents
Timing
Decided June 24, 2022
The Court released its decision on June 24, 2022 without hearing oral argument.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology
Primary materials12
Supreme Court docket 19-1392
docket | Jul 25, 2026
Primary case document
Supreme Court document | Jul 25, 2026
CourtListener docket record
docket | Jul 25, 2026
Questions Presented
brief | Mar 8, 2026
Will the mystery of the Dobbs leak ever be solved?
opinion | Mar 6, 2026
opinion
opinion | Jun 24, 2022
Petition
brief | Jun 15, 2020
Lower Court Orders/Opinions
order | Mar 16, 2020
SupremeCourt.gov
official | Jul 25, 2026
SupremeCourt.gov
official | Jul 25, 2026
SupremeCourt.gov
official | Jul 25, 2026
SupremeCourt.gov
official | Jul 25, 2026