An abortion pill will stay on the market, for now, but with significant restrictions. A late-night ruling Wednesday by a federal appeals court paused part of a lower-court ruling that suspended approval of and access to mifepristone. But the three-judge panel on the Fifth Circuit of Appeals allowed other pieces of that Texas ruling to stand, blocking a roughly seven-year effort by the Food and Drug Administration to expand access to the drug, potentially setting up a showdown in the U.S. Supreme Court.
Among the restrictions is a requirement for in-person doctor visits to obtain the medication, blocking mifepristone from being sent to patients through the mail, and limiting its use to the first seven weeks of pregnancy, instead of the current 10.
Members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation have been vocal on the issue. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th) joined with 69 other congressional Republicans in backing the initial ruling by the Texas judge. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11th) Thursday introduced legislation to prevent so-called judge shopping, which is what critics claim happened in that case.
