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U.S Supreme Court preserves access to widely used abortion pill, while lawsuit plays out
On May 15, 2026, the Supreme Court issued an order preserving access to the abortion drug mifepristone, allowing prescriptions by mail or at pharmacies without an in-person visit while the case against Louisiana restrictions continues. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented. The ruling maintains the status quo for now as litigation proceeds and potential appeals loom.
Why It Matters
The decision maintains access to a widely used abortion method in the near term amid ongoing litigation that could shape how mifepristone is prescribed and dispensed in the United States.
Timeline
5 Events
Supreme Court preserves access
May 15, 2026
The Supreme Court issued a rule preserving access to mifepristone, allowing continued mail- and pharmacy-based prescribing without an in-person doctor's visit while the litigation continues; access is expected to remain through at least part of next year as the case proceeds. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented.
Makary resignation
May 12, 2026
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary resigned after months of criticism from Trump allies, including abortion opponents, as parties pressed for a faster mifepristone safety review.
2024
2024
In 2024, the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the doctors’ suit, saying they lacked standing to sue.
2023
2023
A three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit ruled that mail access and telehealth visits for mifepristone should be suspended while the case plays out.
2022
2022
The article places the current dispute four years after the Supreme Court's conservative-led reversal of Roe v. Wade, setting the broader context for ongoing abortion-access litigation.