5 Great Quotes From the Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt Decision
Today, the Supreme Court reaffirmed a woman’s constitutional right to abortion. In a 5-3 decision in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, the Court overturned Texas’s clinic shutdown law, H.B. 2 – a law designed to chip away at abortion access by imposing medically unnecessary and burdensome requirements on abortion providers and clinics.
Today’s decision was a massive victory for women everywhere. But we get that you’re a busy, strong, and independent woman who might not have time to read the whole 107 pages of the decision. So, we’ve chosen some of the best gems plus appropriate reactions in the form of GIFs. Because is there really any other way?
1. The majority opinion on the bottom line of the restrictions imposed by H.B. 2:
“Each places a substantial obstacle in the path of women seeking a pre-viability abortion, each constitutes an undue burden on abortion access, and each violates the Federal Constitution.” – Justice Stephen Breyer
2. The majority opinion on admitting privileges:
“When directly asked at oral argument whether Texas knew of a single instance in which the new requirement would have helped even one woman obtain better treatment, Texas admitted that there was no evidence on the record of such a case.” – Justice Breyer
3. The majority opinion, recognizing the burden that admitting privileges requirements already had on women:
“In our view, the record contains sufficient evidence that the admitting-privileges requirement led to the closure of half of Texas’ clinics, or thereabouts. Those closures meant fewer doctors, longer waiting times, and increased crowding.” – Justice Breyer
4. The majority opinion on Texas’s argument that forcing clinics to close isn’t a burden because women could visit one of the few remaining clinics in the state:
“Texas seeks to force women to travel long distances to get abortions in crammed-to-capacity superfacilities. Patients seeking these services are less likely to get the kind of individualized attention, serious conversation, and emotional support that doctors at less taxed facilities may have offered. Healthcare facilities and medical professionals are not fungible commodities.” – Justice Breyer
5. And to conclude, we leave you with none other than the notorious RBG on why the Court shut down Texas’s abortion restrictions:
“It is beyond rational belief that H.B. 2 could genuinely protect the health of women, and certain that the law ‘would simply make it more difficult for them to obtain abortions.’” – Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
