Attorney General James Releases Statement on Supreme Court Order to Temporarily Block Lower Court Rulings Restricting Medication Abortion Access

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today released the following statement after Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito issued an administrative stay, which temporarily blocked a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit that would have restricted access to the medication abortion drug mifepristone:  

“The rulings regarding abortion medication access from various courts over the past two weeks have caused confusion and anxiety for millions of Americans. The decision by the Supreme Court to temporarily maintain the status quo will provide at least a temporary respite as the appeals process moves forward. The fight is certainly not yet over, and so long as I am New York’s Attorney General I will use every tool as my disposal to protect medication abortion access and the rights of all New Yorkers.” 

Attorney General James has been a national leader in protecting access to reproductive health care, including medication abortion. Earlier today, Attorney General James led a coalition of 24 attorneys general in submitting an amicus brief to the Supreme Court before Justice Alito’s decision. This brief was part of Attorney General James’ leadership on this issue, as she also led a coalition in February to submit an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court case challenging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of mifepristone, and earlier this week, she submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to support efforts to maintain FDA-approval of mifepristone. In March, Attorney General James, together with Governor Hochul, sent a letter to the CEOs of Walgreens (owner of Duane Reade), Rite Aid, and CVS to demand answers about the companies’ plans to make the abortion medication mifepristone available in New York state. Following the Supreme Court’s decision to end Roe v. Wade, Attorney General James launched a pro bono legal hotline to provide legal support to patients and health care providers nationwide. To get legal assistance, call the New York abortion rights legal hotline (212) 899-5567 to know your rights.