(MENAFN) The Biden administration has asked a federal judge to provide guidance on how to respond to conflicting court rulings on the availability of the abortion pill mifepristone. Last week, U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice of the U.S. Eastern District of Washington issued a ruling preventing the FDA from changing the status quo on mifepristone availability in 17 states and the District of Columbia. The ruling was made in response to lawsuits filed by these states seeking to keep the medication on the market. However, just 20 minutes before Rice’s decision, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of the U.S. Northern District of Texas suspended the FDA’s approval of mifepristone across the country.
In response, the Biden administration has asked the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to block Kacsmaryk’s decision from taking effect while the litigation is ongoing. If the Texas judge’s ruling is not blocked, it will come into effect at midnight CT on Saturday. The Justice Department has indicated that it may take the case to the Supreme Court if necessary.
Given the conflicting court orders, the Biden administration has asked Judge Rice to clarify its obligations with regard to mifepristone by this Friday. The administration’s request reflects its efforts to uphold access to reproductive healthcare in the face of increasing challenges from conservative state governments and legal challenges from anti-abortion groups. Mifepristone is a medication used in combination with misoprostol to terminate early pregnancies, and is considered a safe and effective option for those seeking abortions.
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