No. 21-588October Term 2021Decided Dec 10, 2021
United States v. Texas
The United States sued Texas to block the enforcement of SB 8, a state law that bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy and allows private citizens to sue anyone who assists in the procedure.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Dec 10, 2021
- What it's about
The United States sued Texas to block the enforcement of SB 8, a state law that bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy and allows private citizens to sue anyone who assists in the procedure. The Supreme Court ultimately dismissed the case without deciding the merits.
Question presented
1. Whether the guidance is arbitrary and capricious or otherwise not in accordance with law? 2. Whether the guidance was subject to the APA's notice-and-comment procedures? 3. Whether the guidance violates the Take Care Clause of the Constitution, Article II, section 3?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit / Decision released Dec 10, 2021
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided December 10, 2021
The Court released its decision on December 10, 2021 without hearing oral argument.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology
Primary materials8
Supreme Court docket 21-588
docket | Jul 25, 2026
Primary case document
Supreme Court document | Jul 25, 2026
CourtListener docket record
docket | Jul 25, 2026
Questions Presented
brief | Mar 11, 2026
Opinion
opinion | Dec 10, 2021
opinion
opinion | Oct 22, 2021
Reply
brief | Oct 22, 2021
Petition
brief | Oct 18, 2021