New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with a coalition of 17 other attorneys general, has urged a federal appeals court to maintain access to the abortion medication mifepristone. The group filed an amicus brief in support of a lower court ruling that blocked restrictions imposed by North Carolina on the drug, citing them as unnecessary and in conflict with federal guidelines.
In their brief, the attorneys general argue that mifepristone, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has been safely used for decades. They contend that the restrictions pose unnecessary risks to patients by limiting access to a medication that is widely recognized as safe.
“Mifepristone is a safe medication that has been used by millions of people, and these dangerous restrictions are causing real harm to people across the country,” Attorney General James said in a statement. “Reproductive health care should not be weaponized as a tool to win political points; it is a human right that should be accessible to everyone who needs it.”
Mifepristone, used in medication abortions and miscarriage management, has been subject to evolving regulations since the FDA first approved it in 2000. The FDA has steadily relaxed restrictions, including removing a requirement for patients to obtain the medication in person from a physician. These changes have aimed to enhance access while maintaining safety.
However, in 2023, North Carolina reinstated several of the FDA-removed restrictions, sparking a legal challenge from a local abortion provider. The plaintiff argued that the state’s restrictions were preempted by federal law, which grants the FDA authority to regulate drug safety through the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program. The district court ruled in favor of the provider, concluding that North Carolina’s reimposition of these restrictions violated federal authority.
Attorney General James and her coalition are now urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to uphold the district court’s ruling. The coalition argues that states cannot reintroduce barriers that the FDA has determined are unnecessary for patient safety.
Joining James in the brief are attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, and 14 other states, as well as the District of Columbia. The group highlights that increased obstacles to mifepristone access only elevate medical risks for patients, while failing to improve safety outcomes.
This filing is the latest in James’ ongoing efforts to safeguard reproductive rights both in New York and across the country. Earlier this year, she spearheaded a lawsuit against anti-abortion organizations promoting unproven abortion reversal treatments. Additionally, James led a coalition urging Congress to expand reproductive healthcare access through the Access to Family Building Act, and co-filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court defending emergency abortion care.
As legal battles over abortion continue nationwide, the outcome of this case could have widespread implications for the availability of mifepristone and the broader landscape of reproductive health care.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].