An Originalist Perspective on Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic
An Originalist Perspective on Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic: State Sovereignty Triumphs in Medicaid Funding Dispute On June 26, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a 6-3 decision in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, upholding South Carolina’s authority to exclude Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program without facing private lawsuits under 42 U.S.C. §1983. From an originalist perspective, the ruling reflects a faithful adherence to the original public meaning of §1983 (enacted in 1871) and the Spending Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 of the Constitution), reinforcing state sovereignty, judicial restraint, and legislative authority. This column explores the…
