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One of the biggest cases on the Supreme Court’s spring docket was a case challenging the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, the abortion drug. Right-wing groups are having a field day in recent years, with all of the Trump-appointed judges at the federal level, with those bonkers decisions being codified by the now hard-right-extremist Supreme Court (thanks to Trump-appointed SCOTUS justices). Banning mifepristone was on the far right’s wish list and they’ve been going through the motions at lower levels, getting temporary bans at the state level, all to get the cases kicked up to SCOTUS. Well, SCOTUS heard the case a few months ago and the decision was released on Thursday. Mifepristone is safe. For now. Surprisingly, it was a unanimous decision.
The Supreme Court on Thursday maintained access to a widely available abortion pill, rejecting a bid from a group of anti-abortion organizations and doctors to undo the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the drug. In a unanimous decision, written by Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, the court held that the anti-abortion groups lacked a direct stake in the dispute, a requirement to challenge the F.D.A.’s approval of the pill, mifepristone.
“The plaintiffs do not prescribe or use mifepristone,” Justice Kavanaugh wrote. “And F.D.A. is not requiring them to do or refrain from doing anything.”
He added, “A plaintiff ’s desire to make a drug less available for others does not establish standing to sue.”
The case originally sought to erase the F.D.A.’s approval of mifepristone. But by the time it reached the Supreme Court, the question had been narrowed to whether the agency had acted legally in 2016 and 2021, when it broadened distribution of the pill, eventually including telemedicine and mail options.
The ruling handed a muted victory to abortion rights groups. Even as they praised the decision for averting severe restrictions on the availability of the pill, they warned that the outcome could be short-lived. Anti-abortion groups vowed to press ahead, promising that the fight was far from over and raising the possibility that other plaintiffs, states in particular, would mount challenges to the drug.
The ruling did not affect separate restrictions on the pill in more than a dozen states that have passed near-total bans on abortion since the court eliminated a constitutional right to the procedure in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. (The bans do not distinguish between medication and surgical abortion.)
This is a technicality which even the most compromised boneheads of the Supreme Court could not overlook. They can’t just say “the FDA needs to stop distribution of an abortive drug based on vibes.” The right-wing group has zero standing and the FDA did their due diligence when they approved mifepristone years ago. Make no mistake though, abortion, reproductive rights, contraception and IVF are absolutely on the ballot this year, as they’ve been on the ballot for the past fifty years. Don’t get complacent about this sh-t like voters were in 2016. That complacency is the whole reason we’re still dealing with the long-term catastrophe of Trump-appointed judges and an empowered extremist right-wing.
A few more things about SCOTUS – the Senate just found that Republican megadonor Harlan Crow gave Clarence Thomas even more private flights and vacations than originally reported. And Samuel Alito thinks America needs to “return” to a “place of godliness.” Can these a–holes please be thrown off the court? Jesus Christ.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Instar, Cover Images, Backgrid.
-Washington, District of Columbia – 20210423-Supreme Court of the United States 2021 Group Photo
Members of the Supreme Court pose for a group photo at the Supreme Court in Washington, DC on April 23, 2021. Seated from left: Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., Justice Stephen G. Breyer, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Justice Elena Kagan, Justice Neil M. Gorsuch and Justice Amy Coney Barrett.
-PICTURED: Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., Justice Stephen G. Breyer, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Justice Elena Kagan, Justice Neil M. Gorsuch and Justice Amy Coney Barrett
-PHOTO by: Erin Schaff/POOL/CNP/startraksphoto.com
-042321_Supreme-Court-Pool_016
This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact Startraks Photo for licensing fee and rights information at sales@startraksphoto.com or call +1 212 414 9464 This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. Startraks Photo reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded
Associate Justice Clarence Thomas poses for a group photograph at the Supreme Court building on June 1 2017 in Washington, DC.,Image: 513106017, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS- Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Olivier Douliery / Avalon
Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts, Associate Justice Elena Kagan, Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch and Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh look on before the start of U.S. President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. February 4, 2020.,Image: 563287352, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Leah Millis / Avalon
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Clarence Thomas waits to administer the oath of office to Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC on Monday, October 26, 2020. US President Donald J. Trump and her husband Jesse M. Barrett look on.,Image: 565706222, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: usage worldwide, Model Release: no, Credit line: Chris Kleponis / DPA Picture Alliance / Avalon
Premiere Of Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Aquaman”
Featuring: Amber Heard
Where: Hollywood, California, United States
When: 12 Dec 2018
Credit: FayesVision/WENN.com
Premiere Of Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Aquaman”
Featuring: Amber Heard
Where: Hollywood, California, United States
When: 12 Dec 2018
Credit: FayesVision/WENN.com
Premiere Of Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Aquaman”
Featuring: Amber Heard
Where: Hollywood, California, United States
When: 12 Dec 2018
Credit: FayesVision/WENN.com
Justices of the United States Supreme Court during a formal group photograph at the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. The court opened its new term Monday with a calendar already full of high-profile clashes, including two cases that could end the use of race in college admissions.
Featuring: Clarence Thomas
Where: Washington, District of Columbia, United States
When: 07 Oct 2022
Credit: Eric Lee/POOL/CNP/startraksphoto.com/Cover Images
Justices of the United States Supreme Court during a formal group photograph at the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. The court opened its new term Monday with a calendar already full of high-profile clashes, including two cases that could end the use of race in college admissions.
Featuring: Sonia Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas
Where: Washington, District of Columbia, United States
When: 07 Oct 2022
Credit: Eric Lee/POOL/CNP/startraksphoto.com/Cover Images
