Supreme Court Reviews Mifepristone Access Amid Protests and Divided Options

This week, the Supreme Court is reviewing a lower court ruling that limited access to the abortion drug mifepristone. A decision could soon be reached, as abortion rights rallies took place over the weekend, with Vice President Kamala Harris attending one in Los Angeles. The protests followed a Texas judge’s suspension of the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, which has been in place for decades.

Vice President Kamala Harris gives remarks at the Women’s March in Los Angeles Saturday, Apr. 15, 2023. Nationwide rallies come after the U.S. Supreme Court intervened Friday to delay rule changes that would have limited the way the abortion drug mifepristone could be used and dispensed, to give itself more time to review the matter more thoroughly. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito extended a lower court’s stay on the ruling, giving the justices time to thoroughly examine the issue. Opinions remain divided, with Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy advocating for states’ rights to determine their own abortion laws, while Wisconsin Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin emphasizes the ongoing significance of the abortion issue in politics.

A CBS News poll indicates that nearly 70% of Americans want the drug to remain available in states where abortion is legal, including almost half of Republicans.

Justice Alito has given anti-abortion medical associations and physicians challenging the FDA’s approval of mifepristone until noon Tuesday to respond. The temporary stay will last until Wednesday night.

Click to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.