Jan 12, 2021 - Politics & Policy

Supreme Court sides with Trump administration on abortion pill rule

Rebecca Falconer

Capitol Police stand guard at the Supreme Court on January 12, 2021 in Washington, DC. — Capitol Police stand guard at the Supreme Court Tuesday in Washington, D.C. Photo:y Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

The Supreme Court granted a Trump administration appeal on Tuesday and reinstated a federal requirement obligating women seeking an abortion pill to obtain the drug from a hospital or medical center in person.

Why it matters: It's the court's first ruling on abortion since the arrival of the conservative Trump-appointed Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

Details: Justices voted 6-3 in favor of the ruling, eight days before President Trump leaves office. The court's liberal justices dissented.

Of note, via AP: "The new administration could put the in-person requirement on hold after Joe Biden takes office on Jan. 20."

The big picture: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other groups, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, filed a lawsuit challenging over a Food and Drug Administration rule requiring the Mifeprex pill be picked up in person during a pandemic.

In December, a federal judge agreed with the groups and allowed the pill to be delivered via mail during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the order, via DocumentCloud:

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

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Supreme Court sides with Trump administration on abortion pill rule

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