Response to SCOTUS blocking of Fifth Circuit ruling on medication abortion
Press Release | May 4, 2026
On May 4, 2026, the US Supreme Court blocked the ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Louisiana, which had issued a federal ban on the distribution of abortion medication by mail just three days prior.
In response to this new update, Abortion Forward Executive Director Kellie Copeland said: “Thankfully people across the country are now again allowed to access medication abortion via telemedicine. Unfortunately, this is just a brief reprieve for those who need abortion care. From H.B. 324 and S.B. 309 in the Ohio Legislature, to lawsuits like this one, and bills introduced at the federal level there is a coordinated effort by anti-abortion organizations and elected officials to block access to this safe and effective medication, and cause chaos for patients seeking medical care.
“Ohio abortion clinics are open for patients. Americans have safely and effectively used Mifepristone to terminate pregnancies since it was first approved a quarter-century ago. An abortion ban anywhere impacts access everywhere. Patients across the country deserve access to care, no matter where they live, without constant political interference and uncertainty. We will continue to fight here in Ohio and with our partners across the country to ensure patients have access to the care they need.”
