By Trish Svoboda

The Supreme Court dismissed a challenge on June 13, to the abortion pill mifepristone, ensuring the drug remains widely available. The court unanimously determined that the anti-abortion doctors who contested the FDA’s decisions to ease access to the pill lacked legal standing to sue.

President Joe Biden said that although the ruling keeps the pill easily accessible, “the fight for reproductive freedom continues” in light of the Supreme Court’s decision two years ago overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade. He mentioned that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate any injury, indicating “the federal courts are the wrong forum for addressing the plaintiffs’ concerns about FDA’s actions.”

The challenge was initiated by doctors and other medical professionals represented by the conservative Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom. By dismissing the case on these grounds, the court avoided a decision on the legal merits of the FDA’s actions, making it possible that similar issues might resurface in future cases.

In addition, regulatory decisions remain in place allowing women to obtain the pill within 10 weeks of gestation, rather than seven, and permitting healthcare providers other than physicians to dispense the pill.

Sharice Davids released a statement about the decision. Davids said, “I will always stand with Kansans who overwhelmingly rejected extremist attempts to limit reproductive health care access. Yet, for the second year in a row, a vital and safe reproductive health care medication was under attack, threatening to strip Kansans’ ability to freely make health care decisions that are best for their families and futures. Thankfully, with today’s Supreme Court’s decision, that attack once again failed. While this is a victory for our freedoms, the fight is far from over. I remain steadfast in opposing anyone who tries to interfere in our most private health care decisions