Supreme Court restores access to abortion pill mifepristone through telehealth, mail and pharmacies

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Mon May 4, 2026, 11:37 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: AP

Updated 10:55 AM EDT, May 4, 2026


WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday restored broad access to the abortion pill mifepristone, blocking a ruling that had threatened to upend one of the main ways abortion is provided across the nation.

The order signed by Justice Samuel Alito temporarily allows women seeking abortions to obtain the pill at pharmacies or through the mail, without an in-person visit to a doctor.

Those rules had been in effect for several years until a federal appeals court imposed new restrictions last week.

The majority of abortions in the U.S. are obtained through medications, usually a combination of mifepristone and a second drug, misoprostol. Their availability has blunted the impact of abortion bans that most Republican-led states have started enforcing since a 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed for state bans.


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pills-mifepristone-supreme-court-louisiana-0533e83d67148fdfec53b1d0d30c1e8a

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Link to ORDER (PDF) - https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/050426zr1_f2bh.pdf

(SCOTUSBlog to the rescue for a link!)

[RussBLib]

1. Well well

But this decision was expected, if any SCOTUS moves are “predictable.”

Did they use the “Shadow Docket” for this one?

https://russblib.blogspot.com/?m=1

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. The Fifth Circuit was overruled.

Yeah

[BattleRow]

19. Short circuited...

[jfz9580m]

3. Excellent

One way life is less hellish for American women.

[riversedge]

4. K and R. I was looking for an article on this. Thanks.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. AP blasted out a "breaking news" and the NYT had one too

Most of the rest are still in the "requesting a stay" stage in their articles. Have been frantically searching for an upload of what would probably be a one pager "Administrative stay" from Alito.

[cbabe]

5. Stock up.

[Scrivener7]

7. Which one of them has a pregnant granddaughter?

[cyndensco]

8. ...or a paramour?

[onenote]

10. This was a single justice order.

Alito, to ,whom the petition was directed granted the administrative stay and set a deadline for Louisiana to respond to the request that the Fifth Circuit's order be reversed. After the response is filed, the rest of the justices will consider the matter and decide whether to deny the stay request or grant it pending full review of the Fifth Circuit decision.

[Scrivener7]

11. So Alito, then.

[onenote]

13. As a practical matter, he had little choice.

If he had denied the request outright, the petitioners could and would have gone to any other justice and presumably gotten the requested administrative stay, or potentially, but unlikely, even broader relief. In all likelihood, after Louisiana files its response on Thursday, Alito will refer the matter to the full Court, which will decide what action to take.

[Scrivener7]

15. Hope his granddaughter comes through it fine.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

29. That shouldn't matter. All the justices have enough money ...

... to send a granddaughter on a "shopping trip" to London, Paris, Toronto, etc.

The ban is a mere inconvenience for the well-off.

[Scrivener7]

30. It's a joke, son.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

32. Got it. My sense of humor often fails me ...

... when the Supreme Court makes a decision, usually 6-3 in the wrong direction. I expect no improvement on this issue.

[Scrivener7]

33. No. It must have been a little obscure because you were not the only one who tried to explain it to me.

[lostincalifornia]

9. Surprising, but welcome.

[yankee87]

12. Courts in doctor offices

Republican Party wants to be involved with every part of your life.

[AZ8theist]

25. Exactly

[url=https://postimages.org/][img][/img][/url]

[AZJonnie]

14. Is is true that this is only a pause on the 5th's decision until May 11, so briefs can be filed?

Heard that from a pretty good source, who's usually accurate

[BumRushDaShow]

20. It's an "Administrative Stay" for 1 week to get responses from all parties.

[Grins]

16. Key word: "Temporarily..."

2nd paragraph.

It’s not over, for the Christian zealots it’s never over.

[DemocracyForever]

17. Abortion NOT in the bible

It's time to call out the "Christian zealots" because the actual facts are that the word abortion is not found in the bible and Jesus never said the word abortion. Methods for abortion have been recorded since 5000 B.C. and abortion was very common in the Jewish culture in Jesus's time.

[Buzz cook]

22. There's an abortion in the bible.

If a husband suspects his wife is pregnant from adultery. He takes here to the temple and the priest gives her a drink. If she is guilty she looses the fetus.

That's not to mention when god commands that babies be ripped from the wombs of various people groups that he doesn't like.

[Zackzzzz]

31. A little like dunking witches.

[DemocracyForever]

34. Ok but God loves all people

Why do you think Jesus taught, "love thy neighbor as thyself"?

[Buzz cook]

35. Jesus said some nice stuff.

His followers have committed lots of horrific stuff.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Matthew 7:16

[DemocracyForever]

36. Too manyJesus followers have not followed his teachings

The book "The separation of church and hate" by John Fuglsang does a great job of documenting this. I urge you to read this book.

[J_William_Ryan]

18. "Republican Party wants to be involved with every part of your life."

The Republican Party wants to interfere with every part of your life.

More government, bigger government at the expense of individual liberty.

[BurnDoubt]

21. Wait...

But it’s those Godless Democrats who want to interfere with your life.
Socialism is coming for yer Libirdies.

[EnergizedLib]

23. I don't hold my breath when it comes to this court

Even if they side against the Fifth, this is a court that makes one good decision out of 10 with the other nine being abysmal, horrific decisions.

[FakeNoose]

24. It's still only available by prescription, am I right?

This is a drug that will be administered through a doctor's care, and handled responsibly by medical professionals. I can't see this turning into the next "Viagra" ... ever! If I'm correct then SCOTUS made the correct decision.

[Buddyzbuddy]

27. Alito, of all people to have to sign it.

And then, has to go home and face his religious zealot nut job wife. Time to run some more flags up her pole.

[1WorldHope]

28. It seems like everything they do in government these days is only temporary.

Thank God so is the great orange one.