The Supreme Court preserves access to abortion pills

Yesterday, the Supreme Court unanimously rejected an effort seeking to restrict access to the abortion pill mifepristone, marking the Court’s first decision on abortion since it overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago.

Background: Mifepristone, alongside the drug misoprostol, is typically taken during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy to induce an abortion or manage an early miscarriage. The two-drug combination has grown in popularity since receiving FDA approval in 2000, and is now used for the vast majority of medication abortions (which account for ~63% of all US abortion procedures).

SCOTUS’s decision ensures mifepristone will remain widely available. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the plaintiffs – a group of doctors who oppose abortion but don't take or prescribe mifepristone – couldn't show they were directly injured by the drug’s legality, and thus lacked the standing to sue.

• The Court didn’t rule on the merits of the plaintiffs’ case, which argued the FDA improperly approved mifepristone and failed to properly study its safety.
• The unsuccessful legal challenge sought to restrict access to mifepristone nationwide, even in the 36 states where abortion is legal.

Zoom out: Abortion is increasingly becoming a pivotal issue heading into the November elections. Nearly a third of all US voters say they would only vote for political candidates in major offices if they share their views on abortion, according to a Gallup poll published yesterday.

• This voting bloc – split between 23% “pro-choice” and 8% “pro-life” – is the largest since Gallup first began asking that question in 1992.

📊 Flash poll: Which of the following best describes your personal stance on abortion?

• It should be legal under any circumstances
• It should be legal under most circumstances
• It should be legal under only a few circumstances
• It should be illegal under all circumstances
• Unsure/other