Supreme Court deals a blow to effort to restrict abortion pill access — for now

The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed women to continue accessing the abortion pill Mifepristone through telehealth visits, blocking a lower court ruling that would have required in-person visits while litigation continues.

CNN reported that the conservative court maintained its stay of a May 1 Fifth Circuit decision that "abruptly required women to obtain the drug through in-person visits." Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from the decision. The court did not explain its reasoning or disclose the full vote count.

The decision preserves the status quo while officials in Louisiana continue to push for limiting the availability of the drug in lower courts, CNN reported, adding that "the focus will now return to the New Orleans-based appeals court, which will decide the merits of Louisiana's challenge."