Supreme Court temporarily blocks ruling, keeping mail-order mifepristone legal

The U.S. Supreme Court issued an order that temporarily blocks a federal appeals court decision that would have required women to obtain abortion pills in person. The temporary stay preserves the ability to order mifepristone by mail while the broader lawsuit proceeds.

The justices granted the stay after the lower court had extended its timeline for a final ruling. The move does not resolve the underlying legal dispute, but it ensures that the current mail-order system remains operational for now.

Legal experts note that the decision maintains access to a medication that has been a focal point of ongoing political and judicial battles. The outcome will be watched closely by health-care providers and pharmaceutical companies involved in the distribution of mifepristone.