Why are Roe v Wade and Planned Parenthood v Casey abbreviated as Roe and Casey?
<p>The <em>Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization</em> ruling says:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>...<em>Roe</em> and <em>Casey</em> are overruled...</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Why is <em>Roe v. Wade</em> abbreviated as <em>Roe</em>, while <em>Planned Parenthood v. Casey</em> is abbreviated as <em>Casey</em>? Shouldn't they be <em>Roe</em> and <em>Planned Parenthood</em> or <em>Wade</em> and <em>Casey</em>?</p>

<p>There isn't any kind of legal reason for the distinction; it's just a matter of custom and convenience.</p>
<p>The normal rule is that you would shorthand a case name by referring to the first-named party, but there are lots of times where that is not the case. With <em>Casey</em>, the issue is that Planned Parenthood is a serial litigant, so if you were to just refer to &quot;<em>Planned Parenthood</em>,&quot; there would be some ambiguity as to whether you were referring to <a href="https://casetext.com/case/planned-parenthood-of-central-missouri-v-danforth-danforth-v-planned-parenthood-of-central-missouri" rel="noreferrer"><em>Planned Parenthood v. Danforth</em>, 428 U.S. 52 (1976)</a>, or <a href="https://casetext.com/case/planned-parenthood-of-southeastern-pennsylvania-v-casey-casey-v-planned-parenthood-of-southeastern-pennsylvania#:%7E:text=The%20Act%20requires%20that%20a,before%20the%20abortion%20is%20performed." rel="noreferrer"><em>Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. Casey</em>, 505 U.S. 833 (1992)</a>, or any of the many other cases Planned Parenthood has litigated in the circuit and district courts.</p>
<p>For the same reason, criminal cases are typically named after the defendant, as we would otherwise have tens of thousands of cases named &quot;California&quot; or &quot;New York&quot; or &quot;United States.&quot;</p>

united-states litigation abortion