Amarillo, Texas – The recent Supreme Court decision rejecting a challenge to restrict access to mifepristone may not mark the end of the debate surrounding the abortion pill. US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, appointed by former President Trump, is set to decide this summer whether three conservative states can continue their fight against the drug in his court. This decision, among others in the coming weeks, will determine the trajectory and speed at which the case involving mifepristone returns to the Supreme Court.

Kacsmaryk, known for invalidating the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone last year, has drawn national attention. Both pro-life and pro-choice advocates are gearing up for the case to reappear in his Amarillo courtroom. Despite the recent unanimous Supreme Court decision dismissing the current challenge to mifepristone access, the controversy remains far from over.

“This fight isn’t over,” remarked Carrie Flaxman, a senior legal advisor at Democracy Forward. The accessibility of this medication remains a crucial issue, especially with the potential for the case to resurface before Judge Kacsmaryk. The Supreme Court’s decision sidestepped the merits of the case, focusing instead on the lack of standing for the anti-abortion doctors and groups that sued over the drug.

While the Supreme Court’s ruling left the door open for a possible challenge to the FDA’s regulation of mifepristone, the path forward remains uncertain. As conservative states like Missouri, Idaho, and Kansas aim to intervene in the legal battle, the debate over the drug’s impact continues. The states argue that state-run institutions may bear the cost of adverse effects from mifepristone, creating a complex legal landscape.

Looking ahead, legal experts predict a challenging road ahead for the states seeking to continue their lawsuit. Despite the slim possibility left by the Supreme Court, obstacles such as proving injury from expanded mifepristone access loom large. Overall, the controversy surrounding mifepristone is far from settled, with the potential for further legal battles and contentious debates on the horizon.