Which case established the undue burden standard for evaluating abortion restrictions?

• A. Planned Parenthood v. Casey
• B. Roe v. Wade
• C. Webster v. Reproductive Health Services
• D. Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt

Answer: (A)

Planned Parenthood v. Casey is the case that established the undue burden standard. The Court reaffirmed the right to abortion but replaced Roe’s trimester framework with a test: a law is unconstitutional if its purpose or effect places a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking a pre-viability abortion. This means states can impose some regulations, but they cannot create significant barriers that prevent access to abortion before viability. Later cases, like Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, apply this standard by striking down laws that imposed such obstacles. Roe v. Wade laid the groundwork for abortion rights but did not adopt the undue burden framework, and Webster allowed restrictions but did not establish the standard.