Whole Woman’s Health v. Jackson (Texas)

(1:21-cv-00616)

This case challenged Texas Senate Bill 8 (“S.B. 8”), which bans abortion as early as six weeks of pregnancy.

Not only does this law ban abortion before most people realize they are pregnant, the restriction encourages any private individual —including anti-abortion protestors with no connection to the patient—to “enforce” the law by filing frivolous, destructive lawsuits against anyone who assists Texans in accessing abortion care after six weeks, including abortion and practical support funds.

The Lawyering Project represented half a dozen abortion and practical support funds in this legal challenge.

Plaintiffs:

The Afiya Center; Frontera Fund; Fund Texas Choice; Jane’s Due Process; Lilith Fund; Texas Equal Access Fund; Whole Woman’s Health; Whole Woman’s Health Alliance; eleven Planned Parenthood health centers; Houston Women’s Clinic; Southwestern Women’s Surgical Center; Austin Women’s Health Center; Alamo Women’s Reproductive Services; Dr. Bhavik Kumar; Dr. Allison Gilbert; Reverend Erika Forbes; Reverend Daniel Kanter

Defendants:

Judge of the 114th District Court, and on behalf of a class of all Texas judges similarly situated; Clerk for the District Court of Smith County; Mark Lee Dickson; Executive Director of the Texas Medical Board; Executive Director of the Texas Board of Nursing; Executive Commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission; Executive Director of the Texas Board of Pharmacy; Attorney General of Texas

Co-counsel:

The Center for Reproductive Rights; Planned Parenthood Federation of America; the American Civil Liberties Union; the ACLU of Texas

Timeline and Key Documents:

July 5, 2023

Case is Dismissed

March 11, 2022

Texas Supreme Court Denies Plaintiffs’ Request to Block Ban

December 10, 2021

Supreme Court Denies Plaintiffs’ Request to Block Ban

September 1, 2021

Supreme Court Denies Plaintiffs’ Request to Block Ban

July 13, 2021