Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Ruling That Would Have Limited Mifepristone Access

The Supreme Court stepped in Monday to temporarily block a ruling that would have significantly restricted access to Mifepristone, the most commonly used abortion medication in the United States.

Two orders written by Justice Samuel Alito will keep a lower court's decision on hold until at least May 11, giving the high court time to consider its next steps in the case.

Last Friday, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Louisiana, voiding rules that allowed Mifepristone to be prescribed without an in-person doctor's visit. Those rules had also permitted the medication to be mailed anywhere in the country, including states where abortion is otherwise banned.

Monday's Supreme Court action means those more permissive rules remain in effect while justices weigh what comes next.